HC Deb 18 December 1956 vol 562 cc1079-80
11. Mr. H. Wilson

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total dollar value of all goods, other than those supplied under military aid schemes, shipped to this country since October, 1951, from dollar areas under arrangements which provide for the supply of dollar goods against payment in sterling or in other ways which avoid the payment of dollars.

Mr. H. Macmillan

I assume that the right hon. Gentleman distinguishes in his Question between equipment and materials primarily for defence purposes purchased by H.M. Government with dollars provided by the United States Government and other commodities the sterling counterpart of whose dollar cost is applied, by agreement with the United States Government, for various purposes. In answering, I am taking into account only the latter. The sum up to 8th December, 1956, including the cost of dollar freight, is $214 million.

Mr. Wilson

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this Question, which was very difficult to frame, was meant to cover, for instance, tobacco, raw cotton and other commodities supplied under the American Government's surplus disposal arrangements and so on, paid for in sterling? Would I be right in assuming that the Chancellor's figure really relates to that kind of commodity shipments?

Mr. Macmillan

These are very complicated transactions. I took it that that was what the Question meant, and we have done our best to add up the kind of transactions which the right hon. Gentleman has in mind.