asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what study his Department has made of the relative potential benefits to the United Kingdom and Union of Soviet Socialist Republics economics of increasing trade between the two countries.

The relative potential benefits of increased trade between two countries are unpredictable and very difficult to assess. However, the Government believe that a higher level of trade with the Soviet Union would be to the benefit of both countries, and we are therefore doing all that we can to see that this is achieved.