HC Deb 08 April 1946 vol 421 cc1638-42
86. Mr. Rhodes

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in order to facilitate the reopening of prewar trade connections, some relaxation will be made in the existing import licensing procedure to allow a small flow of imports of manufactured goods which are at present excluded.

Mr. Marquand

In view of the length of the answer to this Question, perhaps I may be allowed to read it after Questions.

Later—

Mr. Marquand

His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom have had under consideration the operation of the import licensing system with a view to seeing what steps can be taken, within the limits dictated by the United Kingdom's balance of payments position, to facilitate the reopening of established trade connections which are at present interrupted in certain categories of manufactured goods for which no import licences are being granted. So long as balance of payments difficulties continue, the free flow of imports for those classes of goods which it is not essential to import clearly cannot be contemplated. It would, moreover, be inequitable to resume imports in cases where United Kingdom manufacture is at present prohibited or where it is restricted so heavily as to render inappropriate even a very limited flow of imports. In cases where United Kingdom manufacturers have been forced for any reason to conform to special standards or specifications, it may be necessary to impose similar restrictions.

In those circumstances, the Government have decided that, with due regard to the economic and financial conditions which prevail, it would be desirable to admit within the above mentioned limitations small amounts of manufactured goods at present completely excluded, it is intended that this relaxation shall apply to imports of specified goods from countries which may be willing to operate the necessary administrative arrangements, and whose underlying financial arrangements with the United Kingdom make such relaxations possible. Goods so imported will be subject, with any necessary modifications, to the arrangements for price control which are applicable to similar goods produced in the United Kingdom. Accordingly, where it can be shown that an overseas manufacturer of a particular class of goods had an established market for those goods in the United Kingdom before the war, applications for import licences on the basis of approximately 20 per cent. of the value of his prewar trade will be favourably considered.

The necessary arrangements to meet this requirement will be worked out with the Governments of the countries concerned. As these arrangements are made, detailed notices to importers setting out the procedure and any additional goods covered will be published. Applications should not be submitted in advance these notices. The necessary arrangements have already been worked out in the case of Canada. Details of these arrangements and the list of goods covered will be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT. Goods on this list will be admitted on the same basis from any other country to which the scheme may be applied. Equally, any additions to this list which may be accepted by the United Kingdom Government will be applicable to all the countries covered by the scheme.

Mr. Gammans

How does the hon. Gentleman reconcile that statement with the non-discriminatory clauses of the Trade Agreement under the American Loan Agreement?

Mr. Marquand

There has been no agreement yet about non-discrimination in principle, but only an agreement that it would apply when an International Trade Organisation was set up.

Mr. Collins

Can my hon. Friend give an assurance that import licences will not be granted in cases where home industry has been able adequately to supply the home market?

Mr. Marquand

No, Sir. We have agreed that it will not be done in cases where United Kingdom manufacture is prohibited or restricted so heavily as to render inappropriate even a very limited flow of imports.

Mr. Walkden

Will the list include watches, which are very much in short supply, and will the rigid price control apply to watches or watch parts when they come on to the home market?

Mr. Marquand

I do not think watches appear in the list we have agreed with Canada.

Mr. Walkden

Or with other countries?

Mr. Marquand

We have not yet made arrangements with any other country.

Mr. Henderson Stewart

Can the hon. Gentleman indicate, roughly speaking, the estimated volume of any such imports? Clearly the Board of Trade must have thought about that. What is roughly the size of this?

Mr. Marquand

The list of commodities is extremely limited as the hon. Member will have seen. Moreover, it is limited to 20 per cent. of the imports of any importer who imported those goods before the war. Consequently the total effect upon our imports will be very slight indeed.

Following are the details:

Arrangements have been worked out with His Majesty's Government in Canada to allow a small flow of imports to be known as "token imports," in respect of a selected list of manufactured goods at present excluded. The list of goods is shown below. Requests for additional Canadian goods to be added will be considered only if made through His Majesty's Government in Canada. Public notice will be given of any additions made to the list. Applications for licences to import the listed goods from Canada will be considered to the extent of approximately 20 per cent. of a Canadian manufacturer's prewar trade with the United Kingdom only when accompanied by a certificate from the Canadian Department of Trade and Commerce identifying the goods which are the subject of the application with the output of the specified Canadian manufacturer. Such a certificate should be applied for by the Canadian manufacturer of the goods or by his export agent in Canada and when obtained it should be sent to the importer in the United Kingdom who will then make application for the import licence.

The new procedure does not affect applications for import licences in respect of goods which are not covered by the list of goods subject to the token import policy. Such applications will continue to be dealt with under the existing procedure.

  • Jelly powder.
  • Carbon electrodes.
  • Paints and varnishes.
  • Industrial porcelain insulators.
  • Ladies' felt hats.
  • Artificial silk clothing.
  • Printed artificial silk woven fabric of a width exceeding 12 inches.
  • Paper makers' felts.
  • Toys and dolls (not of hemp or rubber).
  • Waterproof rubber footwear of the following types:
  • Men's short boots, cleated.
  • Men's storm king, cleated.
  • Women's short boots, cleated.
  • Women's short boots, varnished.
  • Misses' short boots, varnished.
  • Rubber heels and soles.
  • Surgeon's rubber gloves.
  • Lawn Mowers.
  • Cooking and heating appliances.
    • 1642
  • Anti-skid chains.
  • Furniture of metal (other than domestic furniture).
  • Locks, padlocks, keys and key blanks.
  • Oil lamps and lanterns for illumination.
  • Cutlery (types as currently manufactured in the United Kingdom).
  • Mechanical valves.
  • Zip fasteners.
  • Films for photographers' use.
  • Vacuum cleaners and parts.
  • Dry batteries (torch).
  • Dry batteries (high tension).
  • Spark plugs.
  • Domestic woodware (clothes pegs, etc.).
  • Brushes.
  • Imitation jewellery.
  • Toilet preparations:
  • Tooth paste and powder.
  • Lipstick and rouge.
  • Face powder.
  • Vaseline preparations.
  • Hair tonic and Brilliantine.
  • Other cosmetics.
  • Toilet requisites.
  • Ice skates, roller skates, ice hockey equipment and other sports (e.g. tennis, badminton, golf, squash, etc.) equipment.
  • Fountain pens and parts.
  • Propelling pencils and parts.
  • Acetate buttons.
  • Lighter flints.
  • Beehives and frames.
  • Synthetic rubber belting other than conveyor belting.