§ 68. Mr. Rankinasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what steps he is taking to prevent the loss of Russian shipbuilding orders to our competitors, in view of the fact that the inflow of new orders is now at a very low level.
§ Mr. DigbyIt is open to British shipbuilders to compete for Russian orders, subject to certain security restrictions.
§ 69. Mr. Osborneasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy regarding the sale of ships to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the continuation of the embargo, in the light of the recent French agreement to import about 600.000 tons of Soviet oil in exchange for 10 French cargo ships.
§ Mr. DigbyApart from warships and those merchant ships which are of particular strategic value, the export of ships to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is not prohibited.