§ 3. Mr. Sydney Chapmanasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next proposes to invite the Soviet Ambassador to official talks about relations between the United Kingdom and the USSR.
§ The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Julian Amery)The previous Soviet ambassador left on 9th May. His successor is due to arrive today. We look forward to receiving him later this month.
§ Mr. ChapmanI warmly welcome the arrival of the new Soviet Ambassador, Mr. Nikolai Lunkov, but does my right hon. Friend agree that if the good will between our two nations is to be maintained, let alone increased, there must as a first resort be an earnest discussion about minimising, if not getting rid of it entirely, the staggering gap of £137 million in the trade between the two countries, recognising that our exports to the USSR are only £90 million a year?
§ Mr. AmeryMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry was recently in Moscow and drew attention to the gap, and I hope that he will have plenty of opportunity to re-emphasise the points with Mr. Lunkov while he is here.
§ Mr. Peter ArcherWill the right hon. Gentleman point out to the new ambassador 1466 that one impediment to improved relations is the Soviet's treatment of a number of Jewish people whose only crime is their wish to join their families elsewhere?