HC Deb 06 December 1951 vol 494 cc271-2W
Mr. Hamilton

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many trade agreements the United Kingdom has with the countries of Eastern Europe; and what is the total value of goods concerned in each case.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

As regards the Soviet countries of Eastern Europe there are five-year trade and financial agreements concluded in 1949 with Poland and Czechoslovakia. The texts have been published as Cmd. 7628 and 7799 respectively and the hon. Member will find in these publications the schedules of goods in question, together with the figures of volume or value as foreseen at the time of signature. The figures of trade which has actually taken place between these countries and the United Kingdom, as distinct from the rest of the sterling area, are as follow:

Imports Exports (including re-exports)
£m. £m.
Poland
1949 14.8 10.8
1950 19.2 8.0
1951 (January—September) 16.5 6.1
Czechoslovakia
1949–50 (July—June) 5.3 5.7
1950–51 (July—June) 10.2 4.8

Outside the Soviet countries there is a five-year trade agreement with Yugoslavia also concluded in 1949. The text of this agreement, with the schedules of goods, has been published as Cmd. 7880. The figures of trade are as follows:

Imports Exports (including re-exports)
£m. £m.
1949 11.9 4.3
1950 11.4 6.9
1951 (January—September) 7.1 8.7