§ 68. Mr. M. Philips Priceasked the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of tobacco from sterling sources and from the Mediterranean area is now being blended in the tobacco sold to the public.
§ The Secretary for Overseas Trade (Mr. Bottomley)The percentage of different kinds of tobacco used in different brands of cigarettes and pipe tobacco varies from brand to brand, and I cannot say what percentage of tobacco from any source is used in any particular brand. Of the total amount of tobacco smoked in this country, approximately 30 per cent. at present comes from sterling sources and approximately 5 per cent. from the Mediterranean area.
§ Mr. Philips PriceIs it not possible to save dollars to a quite appreciable extent by extending the purchases from these non-dollar sources for blending with American tobacco?
§ Mr. BottomleyThat is precisely what we are doing.