§ 1. Mr. Mikardoasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has examined the imported toy called a Cong Buster which was sent to him by the hon. Member for Poplar; and whether, in Great Britain's present economic circumstances, he will put into force the licensing system so as to keep out such inessential imports.
§ The Minister of State, Board of Trade (Mr. George Darling)Much as I, too, dislike this toy it would be extremely difficult—indeed, for all practical purposes, impossible—to use the import licensing system to prohibit its sale over here.
§ Mr. MikardoIs my right hon. Friend aware that he and his colleagues cannot possibly hope to convince over 20 million people that they must forgo wage increases in order to defend the pound, and ½ million people that they must accept unemployment in order to defend the pound, if the Government permit the defences of the pound to be dissipated by the importation of rubbish without any let or hindrance?
§ Mr. DarlingI appreciate my hon. Friend's point, but we cannot use the import licensing system for other than strictly commercial purposes. There are other means of stopping the importation of unnecessary and offensive articles which my hon. Friend might like to consider.