31. Mr. Hay manasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement on his Department's proposals for licensing a recent barter deal involving imports of sild from Norway in return for the sale of cars.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithSild may be imported from Norway under open general licence. No special authorisation from the Board of Trade is therefore required for the deal described by the hon. Member.
§ Mr. HaymanIs the Minister aware of a recent article in the Grocers' Gazette under the heading:
' Cars for sild' swop could knock out home canning industry.As the Cornish pilchard industry is already suffering from unbridled imports from various parts of the world, will the right hon. and learned Gentleman do something to protect such home industries?
§ Mr. Walker-SmithI have not had the: pleasure of reading the issue of the: Grocers' Gazette to which the hon. Gentleman refers. We have no powers to interfere with what I think the hon. Gentleman agrees, whatever other views he may have about it, is a perfectly legal transaction.
§ Mr. HaymanWill the right hon. and learned Gentleman bear in mind that the motor car industry is a highly protected one, whereas the home canning industries have no protection?
§ Mr. Walker-SmithI will certainly bear those and all other relevant considerations in mind, but it does not alter the fact that we have no powers in this context.