§ 81. Mr. Skinnardasked the President of the Board of Trade how many licences to import windscreen wipers from the United States of America have been granted during the past two years; and how many have been imported under such licences.
§ Mr. BottomleyLicences to import windscreen wipers from the United States 2774 are issued only under the Token Import Scheme, which has included windscreen wipers since r3th March, 1947. Two such licences have been issued with a total c.i.f. value of 367. I have no information as to the number of wipers actually imported under those licences.
§ 82. Mr. Skinnardasked the President of the Board of Trade what spares and parts for motor vehicles have been imported under licence from the United States of America since 1st January, 1946.
§ Mr. BottomleyParticulars of licences issued for the import of spares and parts for motor vehicles from the United States were not separately recorded prior to 1st July, 1946, but between that date and 29th February, 1948, licences were issued to a value of £1,043,410. It is not possible to give details of actual imports against licences issued.
§ Mr. SkinnardIn view of the large number of dollars covered by these items and the need to conserve dollar expenditure, are any steps being taken to enable British manufacturers to make and sell these spare parts?
§ Mr. BottomleyMy hon. Friend will know that these spare parts are for American cars. I am afraid that, in the interests of economy in the use of dollars, we have to keep to this method of achieving the result.