§ Q3. Mr. Bruce-Gardyneasked the Prime Minister on how many occasions he has performed the opening ceremony, in his official capacity, at the offices of foreign trade missions in London, and in respect of which foreign countries.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsI have been asked to reply.
My right hon. Friend has not performed any such opening ceremony, Sir.
§ Mr. Bruce-GardyneThe Chancellor and the Prime Minister seem to have short memories. Did not the Prime Minister visit a Russian trade mission in December? Was this visit part of the softening-up process, like the Gerald Brooke exchange, designed to extract for the Prime Minister an invitation to an electioneering trip to Moscow?
§ Mr. JenkinsNo, Sir. My right hon. Friend attended a reception in connection with the opening on 17th December. But if the hon. Gentleman wants answers to 1203 his Questions, he must learn to put them down accurately. My right hon. Friend performed no opening ceremony. I think it desirable that the Prime Minister should attend such gatherings in connection with the promotion of Anglo-Soviet relations.
§ Mr. Biggs-DavisonDoes the Chancellor really think that all the high-level junketting that went on on that occasion is appropriate so soon after events in Czechoslovakia?
§ Mr. JenkinsI do not know whether that hon. Gentleman takes the view that one should not be anxious to encourage on a moderate scale, as I think is only likely to happen, developments in East-West trade. I think that this is a reasonable thing to encourage and I think that this was a reasonable occasion.