§ 2.42 p.m.
Baroness WARD of NORTH TYNESIDEMy Lords, I beg leave 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 any information is now available on the Soviet Union's freightage charges after the meeting arranged between interested European countries and the delegation representing the Soviet Union.
Lord ORAMYes, my Lords. The noble Baroness will recall that during the visit of a delegation of Western shipowners to Leningrad in July, the Soviet side 1181 recorded its desire to work within shipping conferences. Commercial negotiations to this end, which would require the Soviet lines to agree to charge the same freight rates as Western shipowners in the shipping conferences, are proceeding in several areas. The most progress has been made on the North Atlantic, where provisional agreements have been reached that the Russian Baltatlantic Line will join the conferences.
Baroness WARD of NORTH TYNESIDEMy Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that relatively satisfactory Answer, how long does he think it will be before all the areas are properly covered? May I take this opportunity of thanking the noble Lord very much for letting me know the proper date—which is today—to put down my Question?
Lord ORAMMy Lords, I acknowledge the noble Baroness's thanks to me. As to the final solution of this problem to which she looks, I am afraid that I must warn her that to cover the various areas is a question of very long negotiations. I think that what has been achieved in regard to the North Atlantic can give us hope that eventually there will be success; but it is a long process of negotiation.
§ Lord DRUMALBYNMy Lords, can the noble Lord reassure the House that all the Russian ships operating in the North Atlantic belong to the Russian Baltatlantic Line?
Lord ORAMNo, my Lords, I am not in a position to give that assurance, but I will inquire as to what is the precise situation and will write to the noble Lord.
§ Lord GREENWAYMy Lords, can the noble Lord tell me why the Russians enjoy special, favourable rates at the present moment, and why they should continue to do so until such time as they are able to join the conferences in the normal manner?
Lord ORAMMy Lords, until they agree to join a conference they are free to charge their own rates. It is only when they join a conference that the provisions of agreement within a conference will apply to them.