Commander Kinģ-Hall:

asked the President of the Board of Trade, whether he can give any particulars of the arrangement entered into between Messrs. Hutchinson and the Russian Government for the production of English books in Russia.

The arrangement to which the hon. and gallant Member refers is, as far as this country is concerned, a private commercial one between Hutchinson & Co., Ltd., and the International Book Co., Ltd., of Moscow. It provides for the production in this country of Russian translations of English books for sale in the Soviet Union.

Commander Kinģ-Hall:

As this would appear to be the only channel by which English books may enter Russia, does not the right hon. Gentleman feel it to be important that they should be representative of the 'books of this country? Do Messrs. Hutchinson represent all the publishers, or are they in association with them?

The hon. and gallant Member's supplementary question seems to go a good deal beyond the responsibilities of the Board of Trade.

Major Lloyd:

Could the right hon. Gentleman ensure that a certain proportion of these books are English dictionaries?