§ 68. Sir David Robertsonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will restrict the use of foreign currency for imports of canned crab paste, canned dressed crab, and canned lobster.
§ Sir S. CrippsThese commodities may be imported freely by private importers from soft currency countries but no hard currencies have been, or will be, made available for the import of canned crab paste and canned dressed crab. In the case of canned lobster imports costing hard currencies are permitted under the token import scheme to a value not exceeding 20 per cent. of the value of such imports in the pre-war years.
§ Sir D. RobertsonIs the Chancellor aware that the markets here in Britain are glutted with these unnecessary commodities and that thousands of inshore fishermen, crofters in Scotland, and the like throughout Great Britain, are suffering? Is he aware that many of the fishermen have had to stop fishing? Having regard to the fact that they carried on through the whole war period until now, may I ask why he does not prohibit the use of currency for the purpose referred to.
§ Sir S. CrippsIt has been considered that it is desirable once again to permit importation freely by private enterprise.
§ Mr. W. FletcherIs there not some dollar content, as in the case of oil, in all these tinned crustaceans?
§ Sir S. CrippsNot that I am aware of.