HL Deb 03 March 1954 vol 186 cc51-3

2.36 p.m.

VISCOUNT ELIBANK

My Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will state in what circumstances, and under what statutory regulations, an embargo was placed, after the conclusion of the 1939–45 war, upon the export of strategic goods to Russia.]

LORD MANCROFT

My Lords, at a time of increasing international tension, the late Government initiated action in 1949 to bring under control the export of goods of strategic importance. Certain items of high strategic importance were placed under embargo to the Soviet Union and satellite countries, and exports of certain other items which, if supplied in large quantities, could contribute significantly to military potential, were restricted. This action was taken under the authority of Section 1 of the Import, Export and Customs Powers (Defence) Act, 1939, which assigns to the Board of Trade power to issue such orders as it may think expedient, prohibiting or regulating the export of any goods.

VISCOUNT ELIBANK

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his Answer. Are we to understand from it that, as a result of the United States Battle Act of 1951, no extra restrictions were placed upon the export of strategic goods to Russia?

LORD MANCROFT

I think that the list of strategic goods that have been placed under restriction between the time of the passing of the Act to which I have referred and to-day is now pretty well known to the trading community in this country.

VISCOUNT ELIBANK

May I ask the noble Lord whether, as a result of the Battle Act of 1951, there were imposed upon exports from this country to Russia any restrictions other than those imposed by the original 1949 Order?

LORD MANCROFT

I am afraid that I cannot, without notice, explain to the noble Viscount what was the reason for, or the cause of. the imposition of any particular restriction in this country on any particular goods; nor can I, without notice, answer any question concerning the implication of a foreign Act on actions of the Board of Trade in this country.

VISCOUNT ELIBANK

Is it not a fact that, as a result of the Battle Act of 1951 of the United States, restrictions upon exports from this country to Russia were primarily dictated by that Act, concerning which there was no consultation between the United States and the British Government?

LORD MANCROFT

The noble Viscount asked me what was the authority in this country for the application of these restrictions. I have answered that Question.

VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLS-BOROUGH

My Lords, I think we ought to have a better answer than that. Is it not true, as the noble Lord, Lord Mancroft, himself has said, that the position is fairly well known to business and commerce in the country, and that, whilst the original authority has been correctly stated by him, it has been necessary from time to time to vary the list? That is the real point. It is not for me to press the noble Lord as to why, at a particular time, a particular class of commodity was put on the list, but certainly it has been varied from time to time. I would ask whether, in view of the better atmosphere that was promised the other day—I think it was a member of the Government who said that there was likely to be more freedom in certain classes of goods, while not of course, stepping away from the important strategically valuable goods—we, could be told a little more about that. If so, it would be useful.

LORD MANCROFT

My Lords, the noble Viscount has asked me two questions. To the first, I must repeat that the authority for the statutory regulations under which these embargoes were applied in this country is the Act of 1939. By that Answer I stand. As to the second half of Lord Alexander of Hillsborough's question, I can only repeat the words of my right honourable friend the Prime Minister in another place a week ago, when he concluded his remarks by saying [OFFICIAL REPORT, COMMONS, Vol. 524 (No. 62), col. 592]: We are examining these lists and will discuss them with our American friends. That, I should have thought, was the complete answer to the noble Viscount's question.

VISCOUNT ELIBANK

My Lords. I beg to give notice that I shall put down a further Question on this subject.

LORD MANCROFT

I am not surprised.