§ 20. Mr. Russellasked the President of the Board of Trade what was the value and quantity of pencils imported from France in the first 10 months of 1950; and the corresponding figures for exports to France.
Mr. H. WilsonThirty-five thousand, seven hundred gross pencils of wood, valued at £39,000, were imported from France during the first 10 months of this year compared with exports to that country of 1,400 gross, valued at £2,300. Three thousand, five hundred gross pencils of other materials valued at £10,900, were also imported from France in this period. Exports of these types of pencil were negligible.
§ Mr. RussellIs it not a fact that France places a strict limit on imports of pencils from this country whereas we place no limit on imports from France? Cannot this discrimination be removed?
Mr. WilsonIt is true that we have liberalised in the matter of the import of pencils and that France has not. I would hope that this matter might be taken care of in the further extension of liberalisation by certain European countries in the next few weeks.
§ 21. Mr. Russellasked the President of the Board of Trade what quantity of wood for manufacturing pencils was imported from dollar sources in the first 10 months of 1950; and what proportion this was of the industry's total requirements.
Mr. H. WilsonWood for the manufacture of pencils is not separately distinguished in the trade returns of the United Kingdom.