20. Miss Wardasked the Secretary of State for India whether he can make any statement on his discussions with the Government of India on canteens for the services.
§ Mr. AmeryI am glad to inform my hon. Friend that the Government of India have now agreed to exempt from customs duty all canteen stores whether for the India Command or the South East Asia Command with the exception of wine, spirits, beer and tobacco. The prices of beer and tobacco in Indian canteens already compare favourably with N.A.A.F.I. prices in this country and in overseas Commands. Gift parcels of tobacco sent from this country to India are already exempt from duty.
§ Mr. BellengerMay I ask the Minister whether the tobacco prices, which he says compare favourably with N.A.A.F.I. prices, are for Indian tobacco or American tobacco; if it is not the case that they compare unfavourably with American tobacco, and why it is that the India 1490 Government will not allow American tobacco—which is what the troops want and not Indian tobacco—to come in free of duty?
§ Mr. AmeryI fully appreciate the fact that our troops, on the whole, prefer American to Indian tobacco, but for shipping reasons we decided some time ago that American tobacco could not be imported into India in large quantities, and the proportion of American tobacco in Indian cigarettes had to be cut down.
Mr. AstorCan my right hon. Friend say whether there is complete equality of treatment betwen the American Red Cross and British canteens as regards tobacco, spirits and everything else?
Mr. AstorI am afraid that I did not make myself clear. Are the American canteens getting their tobacco and spirits in duty free or not?
§ Mr. AmeryI believe that they are getting them duty free. As I have just pointed out, with the exception of the particular articles mentioned, they are duty free into India.
§ Sir Herbert WilliamsIs not this a breach of the Atlantic Charter?
§ Mr. ColegateMay I ask my right hon. Friend not to overlook Rhodesian and other Empire tobaccos?
§ Mr. Evelyn WalkdenCan the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that we have ceased issuing or supplying those horrible and unpopular "V" cigarettes in India?
§ Mr. AmeryI have given answers in recent weeks showing that there has been a complete cessation of the issue of the "V" cigarette, but as to its quality I have no information.
§ Mr. StephenDoes the right hon. Gentleman assert that the shipping difficulty does not apply in regard to tobacco going to American Forces?
§ Mr. BellengerI beg to give notice that owing to the completely unsatisfactory nature of the reply of the right hon. Gentleman, I shall raise the matter at an early opportunity on the Adjournment.