HC Deb 22 January 1948 vol 446 cc362-4
31. Mr. A. R. W. Low

asked the President of the Board of Trade why he has authorised the expenditure of 502,072 dollars between January and November, 1947, on the import of luxury artificial teeth from the U.S.A. when to the knowledge of the Board of Trade Messrs. Hawtins, Limited, of Blackpool, produced similar or better class teeth during the war sufficient for this country's needs, and this firm have now stepped up production enabling them to export their teeth throughout the world.

Mr. H. Wilson

The imports were, as to the greater part, for re-export and were authorised to preserve our entrepot trade. The remainder were made under the Token Import Scheme, about which I made a statement on 18th December in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Barrow-in-Furness (Mr. Monslow).

Mr. Low

When the right hon. Gentleman made this statement on 18th December, he referred to goods which are essential. The questions which I wish to ask tiim are these. Are these teeth of any better quality than those made in this country and are they considered as essential goods? The second question is—Is he aware that American firms are frequently advertising in this country that their particular form of artificial teeth are in abundant supply and that effective continuity of supply is assured, and that a copy of this advertisement has been sent to the right hon. Gentleman's office?

Mr. Wilson

On the first question, the token import scheme is designed particularly to relate to goods considered less essential than goods supplied under bilateral trade arrangements and other trade arrangements. There are a number of countries who are not very happy about our concentrating imports purely on essentials, and who want us to take small quantities of less essential goods in return. I am not responsible for advertisements which people choose to put in papers, but it is a fact that home producers of artificial teeth are doing a good job.

Mr. Parkin

Is my right hon. Friend aware that American teeth and the British smile have already caused considerable misunderstanding in other parts of the world?

Captain Crowder

In view of the large stock of artificial teeth in this country, will the Minister give an assurance that he will not import any more, and would he agree that British teeth are best?

Brigadier Head

Is it not the policy of the Ministry of Food to make teeth nonessential in this country?

Captain Crowder

Can the Minister give me an assurance that no more artificial teeth will be imported from America?

Mr. Wilson

I am quite prepared to agree that British teeth are second to none, and I am certainly prepared to agree that stocks of teeth in this country are of a fairly high level, but, in negotiating this agreement, we had to take into account the things which other countries insisted upon having.