§ 26. Mr. Hunterasked the President of the Board of Trade the total value of tobacco leaf imports from the United States of America for the year 1956; and the total value of tobacco leaf imports from the Commonwealth countries for the same year.
§ Sir D. EcclesThe figures are £42 million and £33.3 million, respectively.
§ Mr. HunterIn order to save dollars and to help the balance of payments, will the Minister encourage greater purchases of the better leaf from the Commonwealth countries instead of from the United States?
§ Sir D. EcclesI do, but it is a fact that the manufacturers here are already buying all the good-qualify leaf which they can get from the Commonwealth.