§ 55. Mr. Errollasked the President of the Board of Trade at approximately what rate dollar tobacco leaf is being re-exported to soft currency countries in the form of cigarettes or pipe tobacco.
§ Mr. Bottomley (Secretary for Overseas Trade)Separate records are not kept of the country of origin of the unmanufactured tobacco contained in manufactured tobacco products exported from this country. The value of total exports of manufactured tobacco in the first 10 months of this year was nearly £14 million. The great bulk of these exports were to Commonwealth countries which rely on the United Kingdom for their requirements.
§ Mr. ErrollThen are the large stocks of British cigarettes in soft currency countries today solely supplies which were sent before the war, before the dollar shortage existed?
§ Mr. BottomleyI could not answer that question without notice.
§ Mr. ShepherdCan the Secretary for Overseas Trade say how much of this leaf is sent out in the form of exports to soft currency areas, excluding the Commonwealth areas?
§ Mr. BottomleyNo, I cannot give those precise details. A certain amount is sent in the form of token exports to keep our traditional markets, but the bulk will go to Commonwealth countries.