§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what consultation he has had with his United States counterparts in the Department of Commerce and Department of Energy over the reasons for the United States Government's refusal to allow the direct commercial trading by United States private companies with the Russian military design bureaux and production associations; and if he will review the present permissive arrangements in the United Kingdom on the direct commercial agreements by British companies with military design bureaux and production associations in Russia and other states of the former Soviet Union.
§ Mr. Ian Taylor[holding answer 16 December 1994]: I am not aware of any such contacts by members of my Department and I do not intend to instigate a review. Overseas trading arrangements of British companies are a matter for their own commercial judgment subject only to export control procedures where applicable.