asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will issue a comparison of the chief articles exported by this country to Russia in 1913, with the amounts we exported in 1930 to Soviet Russia?

Yes, Sir. I will circulate the desired information in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

With regard to the figures, do they generally show that a system of virtual prohibition is in force against goods that we might desire to sell to Russia?

There are two pages of figures, and I do not think I could do the mental arithmetic sum necessary to give the answer.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bring these figures more up to date, and give the first eight months of this year?

If the hon. Gentleman wants these figures, per he will put a question on the Paper.

Do you think the kind of question that we have been getting will help us to get what we want from Russia?

Following is the reply:

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the general terms of the decree issued in May, 1931, regulating trade of foreigners with Soviet Russia and of Soviet State and co-operative organisations with foreigners; and whether those orders have been in any way altered since then?

The decree to which my hon. and gallant Friend no doubt refers is that issued on 11th March, which was supplemented by regulations issued on 23rd April. The decree was substantially a re-enactment of existing legislation and the regulations prescribed the procedure to be followed by foreign firms in applying for permission to carry on trading operations in Soviet territory, such procedure not differing in any important respect from that hitherto in force. A full summary of Soviet law on the subject, which has not, so far as I am aware, been amended since, will be found in paragraph 17 of the Report on the Organisation of the Foreign Trade of the Soviet Union, by the Commercial Counsellor to His Majesty's Embassy in Moscow, issued in June last (Cmd. 3904), copy of which I am sending to my hon. and gallant Friend.

Duchess of ATHOLL:

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department the sums outstanding to date that have been guaranteed to Russia and to all other countries, respectively, under the Export Credits scheme?

Sir HILTON YOUNG (Secretary, Overseas Trade Department):

The total amount of credits which the Department had up to the 3rd October contracted to guarantee in respect of exports to Russia and to all other countries was £10,893,106 and £15,787,612, respectively. The total liability assumed under these contracts was £6,906,240 and £10,946,362, respectively.