HC Deb 15 July 1974 vol 877 cc10-1
8. Mr. Dixon

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the volume of United Kingdom trade in 1973 with Russia and Chile, respectively.

Mr. Shore

Published figures show imports from Russia and Chile as £331 million and £57 million cif respectively and exports £97 million and £17 million fob.

Mr. Dixon

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, by their postures, the present Government are increasingly identifying themselves with the Communist views held by, for instance, the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) and that there is every indication that they are anxious to trade with Communist countries and not with other countries which happen not to appeal to their political prejudices?

Mr. Shore

I think that the hon. Gentleman, apart from being offensive, is in a sense inaccurate also. The fact of the matter is that our trade with many countries is and always has been decided by the basic consideration of the ability of countries to trade and whether they have the kinds of goods that we need.

Mr. Skinner

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that, whatever else the hon. Member for Truro (Mr. Dixon) had to say in his suplementary question, the answer to his comment about myself is that I, unlike some hon. Members, have never been a member of the Communist Party but have always belonged to one party only, and that is the Labour Party?

Mr. Shore

I think that it was a somewhat unworthy remark by the hon. Member for Truro (Mr. Dixon), and I hope he will withdraw it.

Mr. Eldon Griffiths

As Chile is the main supplier of copper to this country now that Rhodesia has been turned off, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman what steps he is taking to safeguard our supplies of copper now that he has quite gratuitously and unnecessarily insulted the Chilean Government?

Mr. Shore

I am not sure where the hon. Gentleman gets his information, but the fact is that our trade in copper with Chile is continuing. The limitation on our trade with Chile arises basically from the fact that since 1972 Chile has been in a serious state in regard to her international payments and has been very much a debtor country.