§ Mr. M. Samuelasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that timber now being imported into this country from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is produced by workers who are compelled to work long hours and under forced labour conditions, he will prohibit the importation from this source?
Mr. StanleyI regret that I have no information regarding the conditions of work in the timber industry in Russia.
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§ Mr. Petherickasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the balance of payments between the United Kingdom and Russia for the year 1937?
Mr. StanleyI presume that my hon. Friend is referring to the balance of payments prescribed in the temporary Commercial Agreement with the Soviet Union. The particulars for 1937 cannot be furnished at present as I am not yet in receipt of the information due to be supplied by the Soviet authorities under the provisions of the Schedule to the Agreement, but there is every reason to believe that in 1937, as in previous years, this obligation has been fulfilled.