Hansard

Ussr

Volume 981: debated on Monday 24 March 1980

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Mr. David Price

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list in the Official Report all the economic measures which have been taken by Her Majesty's Government, unilaterally or in conjunction with other Governments, against the Soviet Union in consequence of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

Mr. Parkinson

The economic measures which are being taken against the Soviet Union in consequence of the invasion of Afghanistan are as follows:

  • (a) the British-Soviet credit agreement which granted preferential rates to the Soviet Union has not been renewed. Export credit is now considered on a case-by-case basis and will not be provided at rates more favourable than those set by the international consensus on credit;
  • (b) the Government are studying with other countries the tighter application of the COCOM rules for controlling the export of sensitive technology, and will not submit any new applications for approval while the review is in progress;
  • (c) the European Community has taken restrictive measures in respect of subsidised exports of wheat, barley, flour and bulk butter. Old arrangements have been reviewed or new arrangements introduced to allow improved monitoring of exports by destination in respect of cereals, butter, butter oil, skimmed milk powder, beef and poultry meat. The Government remain totally opposed to subsidised food exports to Russia.