§ 17. Mr. Gammansasked the President of the Board of Trade, why he has refused licences to import leather from Canada and at the same time sanctioned the purchase of shoes amounting to over 500,000 dollars.
§ Sir S. CrippsImports of leather from Canada are now being licensed at the same rate as in 1946, but the whole leather import programme is at present under review. The imports of shoes which are permitted from Canada are about half the prewar imports by value, and in number represent only a very small proportion of United Kingdom production.
§ Mr. GammansWill the Minister say why he refused to give permission to import leather whilst, at the same time, he allowed the import of finished shoes?
§ Sir S. CrippsThe leather which comes from Canada is a balancing leather which depends upon the quantity of hides which we have here for tanning, and in that period the balancing leather was not required.
§ Mr. Walter FletcherWill the right hon. and learned Gentleman say why he permits the import of 600,000 hides from the Argentine, which is a hard currency country, while, at the same time, refusing imports from Canada?
§ Sir S. CrippsThey are different qualities of leather.