HC Deb 07 February 1957 vol 564 cc596-7
30. Mr. Vane

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he has taken to reduce the cost of imports from dollar sources to levels below those ruling early in 1956, in order to help pay for the additional oil required from dollar sources without making claim on our reserves; and what further such measures he has in mind.

Mr. Birch

I cannot add to the Answer which the Prime Minister, when Chancellor, gave to my hon. Friends the Members for Shrewsbury (Mr. Langford-Holt) and Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison) on 18th December.

Mr. Vane

Cannot my right hon. Friend at least say that some special measures are being taken and that the whole of this extra cost is not being drawn from our reserves?

Mr. Birch

The answers to which I referred in reply to my hon. Friend's Question were to the effect that we thought that the best chance of prosperity in this country lay in the stimulation of trade, rising world trade and increasing British exports, rather than in restrictions.