§ 28. Mr. Currieasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now grant some further relief from Customs and Excise duties in respect of the import into the United Kingdom of tobacco grown in Commonwealth countries.
§ Mr. H. BrookeI regret that, apart, from other considerations, commercial treaty undertakings do not allow of more than the existing margin of preference. However, I am happy to say that we buy all the non-dollar Commonwealth tobacco we can which is suitable for the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. CurrieI thank my right hon. Friend for that reply. May I ask that he bear in mind that there has this season been a record production of tobacco in Rhodesia, amounting to 155 million lb.; that this country, by agreement, takes only 83 million lb. of that tobacco; that India is a large producer, and that considerable dollar expenditure could be avoided if more Commonwealth tobacco were used, and at the same time relief could be given to smokers? Will my right hon. Friend reconsider the agreement?
§ Mr. BrookeThe questions that my hon. Friend has raised are, in the main, matters for my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade and not for me.