HC Deb 29 April 1947 vol 436 c1724
60. Mr. Ernest Davies

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the dollar cost of the tobacco utilised in the manufacture of cigarettes exported from the United Kingdom during 1946 and the first quarter of 1947, respectively, and the amounts exported to soft- and hard-currency areas. respectively.

Mr. Glenvil Hall

The dollar content of commercial tobacco exports was 15 million dollars in 1946 and 4¼million in the first quarter of 1947. In the two periods, 70 per cent, and 85 per cent., respectively, went to British Empire markets.

Mr. Ernest Davies

Does my right hon. Friend feel that we are justified in spending the dollars, which we are so hard put to obtain, in exporting tobacco to soft currency countries?

Mr. Glenvil Hall

Most of these reexports go to the Colonies, and for every dollar we spend on imports of tobacco we obtain 2.4 dollars in return, which from our point of view is good business.

Mr. Erroll

In view of that, has the Minister taken steps to prohibit the direct importation of dollar cigarettes into the Commonwealth?

Mr. Glenvil Hall

That, of course, is a matter for the Colonies, but if we did not export them to the Colonies obviously the Colonies would go direct to a dollar country.

Mr. Harrison

Does not the Minister think that he has done quite enough harm to cigarette and tobacco smokers without doing anything further?