HC Deb 14 April 1953 vol 514 cc23-4
29. Mr. Hayman

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to reopen the closed South African and Australian markets to Cornish canned pilchards.

The Secretary for Overseas Trade (Mr. H. R. Mackeson)

It was generally agreed at the Commonwealth Economic Conference that import restrictions imposed by a Commonwealth country for balance of payments reasons should be relaxed as its external financial position improved. In the present state of their balance of payments, neither South Africa nor Australia has found it possible to remove the restrictions on the importation of canned pilchards, but Australia has recently raised the quota.

Mr. Hayman

Will the Minister bear in mind that South African imported canned pilchards are ruining the home pilchard canning industry? Will he therefore do all he can to allow as big imports as in the past to Australia and South Africa?

30. Mr. Hayman

asked the President of the Board of Trade for what period an open general licence for the import of South African canned pilchards was sanctioned in 1952; and what are his plans for these imports in 1953.

Mr. Mackeson

Imports of canned pilchards from South Africa were not admitted under open general licence at any time during 1952 but licences were granted freely to individual importers. It is our intention to continue to admit freely these imports from South Africa.

Mr. Hayman

Will the Minister bear in mind that these imports were on a huge scale, that the South African canned pilchard was of such poor quality that it was unable to retain the Malayan market, and that the pilchard canning industry at home and the fishing industry itself are seriously threatened by these huge imports? Will he reconsider his policy for 1953?

Mr. Mackeson

The answer is that neither this Government nor its predecessor used import licensing restrictions to protect domestic industries. We do so to protect the balance of payments. If this industry has a case it wants to put forward for an increase in tariffs, of course it will have sympathetic consideration.