§ 5. Mr. Doddsasked the President of the Board of Trade the cost of tobacco purchased by this country from dollar sources in 1955; and the estimated cost for 1956.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftThe value of the tobacco and tobacco manufactures imported from the dollar area in 1955 was £55.7 million. These imports include tobacco worth $15 million acquired from the United States of America as Commodity Aid. I cannot yet give an estimate for 1956.
§ Mr. DoddsCan we really go on with this collossal dollar expenditure on tobacco? What has been done to get more tobacco from sterling sources, particularly from places in the Commonwealth?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftAs the hon. Gentleman probably knows, there are long-term contracts for the purchase of tobacco from the Commonwealth.