HL Deb 30 July 1958 vol 211 cc481-2

2.44 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 if they will state how many of the approximately 400 items on the common embargo list for trade with China and the Soviet bloc, apart from items subject to quantitative limitation, are being considered for release from controls on trade.]

THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (THE EARL OF GOSFORD)

My Lords, the direct answer to the noble Viscount's Question is that in the review of the strategic controls that has been taking place all the items under control have been considered in order to determine whether they could be released from control. With your Lordships' permission, I should like to take this opportunity of informing the House that the Consultative Group met in paris on July 18 and 19 last to consider the recommendations made by its Co-ordinating Committee on the review of the strategic controls which has been in progress since February. The conclusions of the Consultative Group have now been reported to member Governments. I am happy, not to say relieved—and I am sure the noble Viscount will be happy—to be able to announce not only that agreement was reached on a substantial relaxation of the embargo list but also that Her Majesty's Government's objective of confining the list to items of real strategic significance has been in great measure achieved. Work on 'certain technical details is still going on, so that I regret that the list is not yet available in its final form. It will, however, be published on August 15, and will be effective from that date.

VISCOUNT ELIBANK

My Lords, I beg to thank the noble Earl for his highly satisfactory Answer, which, as I understand it, undoubtedly represents a large stride forward in the freeing of East-West trade from unnecessary and out-of-date control. But may I now ask the noble Earl whether he is aware that, while his statement will require careful study from the angle of developing trade in the advanced products which manufacturers in this country are better able to provide than those of China and the Soviet bloc, nevertheless British industry will assuredly be very grateful to Her Majesty's Government for the steps they have taken in this important matter, particularly at a time when we want to get export markets wherever we can?

VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLS-BOROUGH

My Lords, I should like to say on behalf of the Opposition how much we welcome the statement by the noble Earl. It is a pity that we shall not have the details while Parliament is sitting, and I hope that if, when they are published in the Press, we have any questions to ask, we may communicate with him.