§ Mr. KIRKWOODasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he is aware that Russia has placed an order with Germany for steel tubes to the value of £2,000,000; and further orders have been placed with German firms for machinery, boring apparatus, etc., value £1,250,000; that the German Government is giving long-term credit of 48 months dating from the day of delivery and not as hitherto from the day on which the order was placed; and whether he will arrange to give long-term credit so that we may get orders for heavy engineering?
§ Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLEI have seen reports to much the same effect as the statements quoted by the hon. Member in the first and second parts of his question, but I am unable to confirm them. As regards the last part of the question, I can only repeat that for the present the Advisory Committee to the Export Credits Guarantee Department are prepared to consider proposals involving a maximum of 18 months credit in connection with exports to Russia.