§ 20. Mr. Walter Fletcherasked the President of the Board of Trade why exports on British account of £9,500,000 worth of Japanese goods referred to in the last paragraph on page 11 of the Supplementary Estimate (Army) for 1946–47 were not made; or if they were made for the benefit of some other country.
§ Sir S. CrippsThe sum referred to does not relate to specific Japanese exports. It is the amount which it was hoped to obtain in the year 1946–47 towards certain items of Army expenditure from the proceeds of Japanese exports after meeting the cost of essential Japanese imports.
§ Mr. FletcherCan the President of the Board of Trade say where the error of £9,500,000 arose and is it on mistakes of this magnitude that Socialist planning is based?
§ Sir S. CrippsI could not say how the error, if such exists, arose in the Army Estimates. All I am saying is that it was anticipated that some surplus would be available on Japanese exports which would contribute to these things, but a surplus was not available.
§ Mr. FletcherThe right hon. and learned Gentleman has not answered the second part of the Question. Can he say whether they went to any other country?
§ Sir S. CrippsThe planning of this matter was done by the American Government.
§ Mr. FletcherDid the specific exports go to any other country?
§ Sir S. CrippsThere were no specific exports. This was a general balance of Japanese exports over Japanese imports out of which it has hoped that a sum would be allocated for military expenditure by this country, but it did not materialise and so was not allocated.