§ 4. Sir P. Hannonasked the President of the Board of Trade if he contemplates any proposal for the encouragement of the import of South African wines and brandy to this country with priority over similar articles from foreign countries.
§ Mr. H. WilsonNo, Sir. Permitted imports from South Africa of wines and brandy are at present well in excess, by volume, of pre-war imports and compare favourably in this regard with similar imports from foreign countries. As the hon. Member will be aware, South Africa 2253 already enjoys some measure of preference in the matter of Customs duties on wines and brandy.
§ Sir P. HannonIs the President of the Board of Trade aware of the high quality of these wines and brandy from South Africa, and will he do everything in his power to see that they are imported into this country?
§ Mr. WilsonI am not sure that it is appropriate for me to make comparisons and comments on the quality of these imports. We approach this matter in relation to pre-war imports from this and other countries.
§ Viscount HinchingbrookeWill the right hon. Gentleman remember that we are due to make some tangible contribution towards the ideas of Benelux in the Council of Europe?
Vice-Admiral TaylorWill the Minister reconsider this matter in view of the fact that the prosperity of the South African wine trade is very largely dependent on the preference which it receives from this country and remember that once before we ruined the wine trade in South Africa?
§ Mr. WilsonIt is not a question of reducing preference. The present amount which we are importing is regulated by agreement between ourselves and the South African Government.