§ 62. Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyreasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action His Majesty's Government have taken to prevent soft currency countries from re-exporting to hard currency countries goods imported from the sterling area.
§ Sir S. CrippsPreventive action of various kinds has been taken, including pressure for the maintenance of the correct crossrates and the institution of appropriate controls in the countries concerned. The position is being closely watched and if any further measures appear to be desirable they will be adopted.
§ Colonel Crosthwaite-EyreIn view of what has happened to Australian wool and hides and also to tea, can the Chancellor of the Exchequer state what action he is taking to cover those particular cases?
§ Sir S. CrippsNo, Sir. It is not desirable to warn people of the action that is taken to prevent them doing things that are undesirable.
§ Sir F. SandersonWould not the Chancellor of the Exchequer agree that the sterling area is slowly but gradually becoming a hard currency area?
§ Sir S. CrippsSterling is hardening, but I do not think there is yet any evidence of it becoming a hard currency area.
§ Colonel Crosthwaite-EyreCross currency rates will not help this question, and would the right hon. and learned Gentleman tell us what action he is taking to see that export licences in the sterling area conform to the export licences of this country so as to ensure that where goods are exported they do, in fact, reach the destination set out on the export form.
§ Sir S. CrippsSteps are taken in order to get countries from which goods are exported for sterling to see that they go to the proper destination.