§ 3 and 4. Mr. Holtasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) how much is the canned salmon import quota for the current year; and what is the basis of allocation of the quota to importers;
(2) if he will put canned salmon on open general licence.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithThe quotas for imports of canned salmon in the twelve months ending 30th June, 1958, are £3.5 million from North America and £1.1 million from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. The licensing arrangements were announced last Friday and will be similar to those in operation at present. There is also a quota of £4.89 million for imports from Japan which runs out on 30th September. For balance of payments reasons canned salmon cannot be put on open general licence.
§ Mr. HoltWill there be an opportunity now for people who have not previously 4 been given an import quota but who are importers of other canned fish to get a quota for the importation of canned salmon?
§ Mr. Walker-SmithAs the hon. Member may know, the basis of distribution of these quotas is that 85 per cent. of the imports goes to firms which were firsthand distributors for the Government in the period of control and that the remaining 15 per cent. goes to post-war importers of canned fish other than salmon, which, I think, is the category the hon. Member has in mind.
§ Mr. E. JohnsonIs my right hon. and learned Friend aware of the very great importance of the trade in canned salmon to British Columbia, and is not it most undesirable that we should spend so much more money on buying it from Japan and Russia than on buying it from British Columbia?
§ Mr. Walker-SmithFor balance of payments reasons, imports of canned salmon are controlled from all sources, and the quotas for these imports from particular countries are settled at periodic trade negotiations so far as Japan and Russia are concerned.