§ 6. Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the loss of earnings to this country involved in his decision to refuse to grant a licence for the importation of certain drugs by a Surbiton firm, particulars of which have been sent to him, for purpose of re-export to Norway, he will reconsider that decision.
§ Mr. EdeI have again considered the facts in this case, but, for the reasons already given to the hon. Member, I am not prepared to grant a licence to the firm in question to deal in. or procure, dangerous drugs.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that his decision has prevented this country from earning an appreciable amount of foreign currency in the re-export business, and is it not a fact that the firm in question undertook to carry out any precautions upon which the right hon. Gentleman might decide for safeguarding the drugs?
§ Mr. EdeNo, Sir. I do not accept the first part of that supplementary question because, as I am advised, no increase in the export trade of the country would have resulted. It would merely have meant that the firm in question would have carried on a trade that some other firm is already doing.