HC Deb 19 December 1946 vol 431 c2146
10. Sir Peter Macdonald

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider arranging for a substantial increase by the Colonies of their tobacco production in exchange for a guarantee of purchase by the Government of the United Kingdom or private interests for an appreciable number of years.

The President of the Board of Trade (Sir Stafford Cripps)

We should, of course, be ready to consider any such specific proposal put forward by tobacco producers or importers.

Sir P. Macdonald

Will not the right hon. and learned Gentleman give encouragement to Colonial and Dominion producers of tobacco in view of the importance of maintaining our foreign currency balances and the fact that they must have markets if they are to grow more tobacco?

Sir S. Cripps

. I appreciate that, and it the hon. Member wishes us to undertake a further measure of State trading it is something we must consider carefully.