§ 2.37 p.m.
VISCOUNT ELIBANKMy Lords, I beg to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in relation to the China embargo, they are aware that the end-use practice under which British traders are constantly faced with the question "Shall we get the licence if we get the order?" (1) is having hampering effects on their efforts to obtain orders; and (2) supplies confidential information anent the proposals of British firms trading with China to other members of the Consultative Group; and whether Her Majesty's Government will take steps to discontinue the end-use practice.]
2§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF DEFENCE (LORD MANCROFT)My Lords, it is only to be expected that procedures which are necessary for the enforcement of an embargo must have some hampering effects on the efforts of traders to obtain orders. That is one reason why we hope very shortly to be able to make a further announcement about the future of the China controls. Meanwhile, the same procedures are operated by the fourteen other Governments with whom we co-operate in applying the embargo. As regards the second part of the Question, the proceedings of the Paris Consultative Group are confidential to the participating Governments, and we have no reason to think that exporters in other member countries receive information through this channel about the proposals of British firms.
VISCOUNT ELIBANKMy Lords, I beg to thank the noble Lord for his Answer. May I ask him whether he is aware that these end-use and other restrictive practices have the result of perpetuating an embargo that, in some important respects, brings British trade policy under the control of a confidential body sitting in Paris, over which the British Parliament has no power?
§ LORD MANCROFTMy Lords, I am afraid that membership of an international body such as the Paris Consultative Group always involves the risk of some surrender of Parliamentary control. But the same conditions probably apply to the other fourteen Governments with whom we co-operate.
VISCOUNT ELIBANKMy Lords, I beg to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government if they are in a position to indicate the nature of the conclusions arrived at as a result of inter-Governmental conversations at Bermuda relating to the China embargo.]
THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (THE EARL OF GOSFORD)My Lords, following our discussions in Bermuda, the United States Government have made some proposals for reviewing the China Lists. We shall study these proposals in consultation with other members of the Consultative Group. I hope that this will comfort the noble Viscount after his many years of persistent inquiry.