HC Deb 20 March 1972 vol 833 cc1067-8
23. Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he intends to take to protect British firms wishing to export to Council for Mutual Economic Assistance countries from interference by the Co-ordinating Committee.

Mr. Anthony Grant

The purpose of this international committee, on which the United Kingdom is represented, is to avoid the disruption of trade which would be caused by conflicting national decisions on the operation of strategic export controls.

Mrs. Short

Is it not clear that that is not working? Is the hon. Gentleman aware that at the beginning of this month Ferranti was prevented from carrying out a £4 million export order of basic circuits needed for the building of computers in Poland? Does he not think it high time that the Government took a much tougher line with the committee? Apart from the fact that jobs in this country depend on our being able to export more and more goods to Eastern Europe, does not the hon. Gentleman think it galling and annoying that American circuit and electronic materials are exported to Eastern Europe while the Americans prevent ours from being so exported?

Mr. Grant

I understand all that, but in answer to the general question I would say that there are bound to be both debits and credits in operating controls. We believe that on balance the system benefits the national interest.

Mr. Frank Allaun

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in south-east Lancashire, where this order would have gone, there is serious unemployment and that the engineering workers there think that the Government are still living in the cold war era, particularly as Ferranti says that the contract was not for war purposes?

Mr. Grant

I understand what the hon. Gentleman is saying. All the matters he has referred to are under consideration by the Government.