34. Mr. Norman Smithasked the Minister of Supply and of Aircraft Production what are our estimated requirements for the year 1946 of imports of the raw materials of industry; and to what extent can these be obtained, respectively, from the British Commonwealth and Empire and from the sterling area.
§ Mr. WilmotThe estimated import requirements of raw materials in 1946 are about £350 millions f.o.b. About £150 millions may be obtained from the British Commonwealth and about £130 millions may be obtained from the sterling area. These two figures, of course, cover substantially the same ground. Such estimates are liable to modification in the light of developments in the supply position of the commodities included in them.