asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what was the amount of exports, of pedigree livestock to Russia and the Eastern European countries in the last 12 months; and what steps he is taking to encourage this trade.

Separate figures are not available of exports of pedigree livestock but exports to Russia and Eastern Europe of cattle for breeding and dairy purposes amounted to £29,000 in 1963.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and I encourage this trade through the Livestock Export Council and we are supporting the British Agricultural Exhibition in Moscow in May.

I thank my right hon. Friend for that Answer, which will give a great deal of encouragement to those engaged in this trade. Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that all steps are being taken to make known to the Governments of these countries the availability and quality of British pedigree livestock?

We are doing a great deal to make this known. Both my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture and I are very anxious that exports of this kind should be increased. There will be further opportunities at the Moscow Exhibition. We are publicising this in the Board of Trade Journal this week. We are also, as I have already announced embarking on a series of talks with the representatives of the Eastern bloc countries in addition to the Soviet Union. This will give us an additional opportunity of bringing this to their notice.