§ 14. Mr. Arthur Pearsonasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider restricting the importation of edible gelatine into the United Kingdom to the global maximum value of £5,000 per month, in view of the adequate home production of this product and the declared need of keeping down unnecessary imports to the lowest level.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftNo, Sir. The measures of import restrictions recently announced were made necessary by our balance of payments position. I do not intend to extend them further.
§ Mr. PearsonIn view of the fact that restrictions are taking place, would it not be a sensible thing to restrict commodities, such as those mentioned in this Question, while home production is adequate?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftThese import cuts were imposed not for protective purposes, but in order to assist our balance of payments position. This particular commodity happens to be on the common list on which all countries in Europe seek, if they can, to avoid imposing quantitative restrictions.