§ Mr. John Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have received from other Governments about British trade, and trade carried in British-registered 312W shipping, with North Vietnam; what is the nature, and the extent, of such trade; what replies have been made to such representations; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. George BrownThe United States Government have discussed the situation with us on a number of occasions. We do not believe that the visits by British Flag ships to North Vietnam contribute in any material sense to the North Vietnamese war effort. Our trade with North Vietnam is very small and is subject to the normal controls on the export of strategic goods to certain countries. The trade figures for 1965 and 1966 were given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary on 12th June to the hon. and gallant Member for Lewes (Sir T. Beamish). In the first nine months of 1967 the two-way trade was about £106,000. I have no definite information about foreign cargoes carried on British Flag ships but the number of such ships is small. —[Vol. 748, c.6.]
§ Mr. Leadbitterasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what new initiative he proposes to make on Vietnam.
§ Mr. William RodgersI have nothing to add to the Answer my right hon. Friend gave on 20th November to my hon. Friend and to my hon. Friends the Members for Falmouth and Camborne (Dr. John Dunwoody) and Croydon, South (Mr. Winnick) and to the hon. Gentlemen the Members for Chelmsford (Mr. St. John-Stevas) and Blackpool, South (Mr. Blaker).—[Vol. 754, c. 905–8.]