§ 21. Mr. Gordon Walkerasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the assurances he has received from United Kingdom tobacco manufacturers include an undertaking to increase the purchase of good quality Rhodesian leaf, if it is available, in each of the next three years.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithMy right hon. Friend has no reason to doubt, from the assurances he has received from the United Kingdom tobacco manufacturers, that it is their intention to increase the purchase of good quality Rhodesian leaf. if it is available, in each of the next three years.
§ Mr. Gordon WalkerCould we not have a clearer assurance than that? "No reason to doubt" is not really quite good enough. Could not the President of the Board of Trade satisfy himself that the answer to the Question would be in the affirmative?
§ Mr. Walker-SmithNo, Sir. The altitude of the tobacco manufacturers is based on the best information at present available to them, but it might not necessarily remain correct with the unfolding of the years.