§ 35. Sir E. Keelingasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the prohibition of the expenditure of sterling by British travellers in foreign ships cannot be enforced in Italian ships which present to them wine lists that give prices in sterling but not in lire; and what steps he is taking to prevent this breach of British law by such travellers.
§ Mr. MaudlingWe cannot prevent foreign ships from offering prices in sterling. While I deprecate this practice, I do not agree that this makes it impossible for British travellers to comply with our exchange-control rules.
§ Sir E. KeelingIs my hon. Friend aware that these ships print two lists, one in sterling and one in lire, and not only do they induce British travellers to break the British law by showing them only the sterling list, but they also diddle them by converting lire to sterling at a too low rate of exchange and by not including the cheapest wines in the sterling list at all? They carry British mails.
§ Mr. MaudlingI am glad that my hon. Friend's researches were sufficiently exhaustive to prevent his being diddled.