§ EARL HOWEMy Lords, I beg to ask His Majesty's Government the question standing in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The question was as follows:
§ To ask His Majesty's Government whether, in view of the new agreement to import American films, they have any further statement to make with regard to restoration of a basic petrol allowance.]
§ LORD CHORLEYMy Lords, as the noble Earl is no doubt aware, one of the main purposes of the films agreement was to save dollars. As regards the petrol position, I would ask your Lordships to await the statement which will be made in the week following the Easter recess by my right honourable friend the Minister of Fuel and Power.
§ EARL HOWEDoes the noble Lord's answer mean that the import of American films is now considered to have priority over the question of petrol and to be more important?
§ LORD CHORLEYThe answer does not mean anything of the kind, as the noble Earl is well aware.