HC Deb 03 July 1952 vol 503 c599
12. Mr. P. Roberts

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give an assurance that sufficient material will be available to the cutlery and jewellery industries for the making of Coronation souvenirs to be sold in this country and abroad.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

With regard to non-ferrous metals, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Lewis) on 16th June. Other materials should be available in sufficient quantities.

Mr. Roberts

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the trade are expecting a deal of export business from this to help the balance of payments, and that his statement will be welcomed in that respect because there was some doubt about ferrous metals?

Mr. Bottomley

Is it the President's intention, in making these allocations, to fix an extra quota to help the export drive?

Mr. Thorneycroft

I do not propose to fix a special quota in the case of nonferrous metals. I am hopeful that sufficient will be available for requirements for this purpose. For Coronation souvenirs generally, the market is, of course, reserved to home producers.

Mr. Hastings

Will the right hon. Gentleman use his influence to see that these souvenirs are of some slight worth and are not merely made for sale?