§ 33. Mr. Currieasked the President of the Board of Trade what stocks of Rhodesian tobacco are at present available in the United Kingdom; and by what date it is anticipated that these stocks will have been exhausted by manufacturers.
§ Mr. JayStocks of Rhodesian tobacco in the United Kingdom are good for the time of year. When they will be exhausted depends upon the rate at which manufacturers consider it prudent to use them.
§ Mr. CurrieDoes the right hon. Gentleman have consultations with the industry in order that when it becomes necessary to replace stocks with stocks from some other country we shall not have an increase in the price of tobacco to the consuming public?
§ Mr. JayYes, we are in continuous consultation with the tobacco industry, and that is, indeed, one reason why stocks are so good as they are now.
§ 39. Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the President of the Board of Trade when, and in what quantity, he expects a shortfall in normal requirements of Rhodesian tobacco; and whether he will give an assurance that Her Majesty's Government will not allow the United Kingdom's balance of trade with the dollar area to be adversely affected as a result of the cessation of Rhodesian tobacco imports.
§ Mr. JayThe 1964–5 crop of Rhodesian tobacco has already been sold, and purchases of the 1965–6 crop would normally begin next spring. Whether there will be a shortfall in Rhodesian supplies next year cannot at present be foreseen. Any transfer of import purchases from one country to another is bound to affect our balance of trade with both countries; but our overall balance of payments is not significantly affected by the source from which we purchase our tobacco requirements.
§ Mr. Biggs-DavisonRather than add to any adverse balance of trade with the dollar area, will the Government be 1627 considering taking steps to reduce the national consumption of tobacco?
§ Mr. JayWe shall take every necessary step to improve our balance of payments. Since, however, the previous Government made sterling convertible, it does not make a great deal of difference whether imports are bought from the dollar area or elsewhere.