HC Deb 03 March 1953 vol 512 cc184-5
32. Mr. Philips Price

asked the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of Turkish tobacco is now included in the blends now smoked in this country; and whether, in view of the large credit on trade which this country has with Turkey, he will do everything possible to increase our purchases of tobacco from that country.

Mr. H. Strauss

The answer to the first part of the Question is 3.75 per cent. on an average. Licences are granted freely to enable the trade to import as much Turkish tobacco as they wish, and there are no restrictions on its use.

Mr. Price

While I realise the sensitiveness of the public over the taste of these Mediterranean tobaccos, may I ask if it would be possible to raise the percentage of the blend without causing any unfavourable reaction on public consumption?

Mr. Strauss

The import of dollar tobacco is restricted to the minimum, and that should encourage the use of other kinds of leaf.

Mr. Stokes

May I ask the Minister whether he has satisfied himself about the extent to which manufacturers of cigarettes, etc., in this country are mixed up with the tobacco growers in America? No self-respecting American ever smokes Virginian cigarettes.

Mr. Strauss

I am not quite sure what the right hon. Gentleman deduces from that. There are questions of taste involved, as the hon. Member for Gloucestershire. West (Mr. Price) recognised.

Mr. Stokes

Yes, but may I ask the Minister to answer my question? Has he satisfied himself that the manufacturers in this country are not too closely mixed up with the growers in America?

Hon. Members

Answer.

Mr. Speaker

Order. We are proceeding far beyond the original Question.

Mr. Nabarro

Is not it a fact that if we were in a position to buy more Greek and Turkish tobacco, we should have more American dollars, which might be used to buy sugar, and thus help to get rid of the Ministry of Food?

Mr. Hale

When considering this important question, will the Minister bear in mind that my hon. Friend the Member for Gloucestershire, West (Mr. Price) is a non-smoker?

34. Mr. G. Jeger

asked the President of the Board of Trade what contacts have been made by Her Majesty's Government with the Turkish Trade Mission at present visiting this country.

Mr. Mackeson

Close and cordial relations have been established between the Turkish Trade Mission and Her Majesty's Government. The Mission's main contacts have been with the Ministry of Food and the Board of Trade, but in addition members of the Mission have had discussions with the Foreign Office, the Ministry of Materials and the Ministry of Supply.

Mr. Jeger

is the Minister aware that there is great anxiety among the members of the Turkish Mission that, having come over here to negotiate trade treaties and further purchases from us, as well as further purchases by ourselves from Turkey, they are not able to get the question of their unfavourable balance of trade settled in a satisfactory way?

Mr. Mackeson

I have seen the Mission three times myself. We are well aware of their anxiety, and I think they also realise our difficulties in purchasing some of the things which they want to sell us.

Mr. Bottomley

Is the Minister aware that members of the Turkish Mission have said that they have foodstuffs to sell us at much cheaper prices than those at which we can buy elsewhere, and that we are refusing to buy?

Mr. Mackeson

I hope that the right hon. Gentleman will put that Question to the Minister of Food.