§ 83. Mr. HURDasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a London tobacco firm have announced an advance of Is. 4d. per lb. in the price of their mixtures; whether, seeing the general public interest in the subject, he will inform the House what has been the rise in the cost of imported tobacco leaf since the retail prices were last fixed by the Tobacco Control Board; what is the loss to British tobacco traders on the present American rate of exchange; and what has been the amount of increase in wages for tobacco operatives in this country as fixed by the Tobacco Trades Board over previous rates?
§ Sir A. GEDDESI have no information with regard to any advance announced by a London tobacco firm in the price of its mixtures. The average declared value per pound of unmanufactured tobacco imported into the United Kingdom in April, 1918, in which month retail prices were last fixed by the Tobacco Control Board, was Is. 8d. The corresponding value in November, 1919, was 2s. 81½d. per pound. I am unable to state the amount of loss to British tobacco traders on the present rates of exchange. The last part of the question should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour.