§ 3.5 p.m.
§ LORD AMULREEMy Lords, in the absence of my noble friend Lord Elibank, through illness, I beg to ask the Question which stands in his name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether in 1955 the United States Battle Act was modified by removing a number of items from the Russia embargo list, and, if so, how many items were removed; and whether there is an embargo on the export from the United States to Russia of copper wire.]
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (THE MARQUESS OF READING)My Lords, as regards the first two parts of the Question, the main changes in the embargo lists under the Battle Act were effected in August, 1954, following the review of the International Control Lists undertaken by the Coordinating Committee in Paris. As a result of this review, the Battle Act embargo list was reduced from 297 to 217 items. The Battle Act lists are now identical with the Co-ordinating Committee International Lists.
As regards the third part, all commodities exported from the United States, its territories and possessions to any destination except Canada are subject to 1204 export controls mainly administered by the United States Department of Commerce. These controls are quite separate from the requirements of the Battle Act. All exports from the United States to the Soviet bloc require an export licence, and I am informed that none has been granted for the export of copper wire to the Soviet bloc.
§ LORD AMULREEMy Lords, I should like to thank the noble Marquess for his reply, which I am sure will give great comfort and satisfaction to my noble friend.