ITALIAN VEGETABLES. (Hansard, 5 March 1940)

§ 23. Mrs. Tate
asked the President of the Board of Trade the quantity of Italian vegetables the import of which has been agreed upon by His Majesty's Government; and whether, in practice, these vegetables are paid for through the Anglo-Italian Clearing by exports of coal?

§ Sir A. Duncan
No agreement has been entered into for the importation of Italian vegetables. The second part of the Question does not, therefore, arise.

§ Mrs. Tate
Can I have the right hon. Gentleman's assurance that no such agreement will be entered into?

§ Mr. Shinwell
Why should we refuse to accept Italian exports, whatever form they take, as long as we have an opportunity of providing them with coal, instead of allowing them to purchase German coal?

§ Mrs. Tate
In view of pressure that is being brought upon private individuals and market gardeners to increase their production of vegetables, is it not imperative that the country should know what supplies are to be imported and what supplies are to be grown at home?

§ Sir A. Duncan
That is a different question from the one on the Paper, to which I have given an answer.