§ 2.42 p.m.
§ LORD BOOTHBYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will now re-impose import controls and building licences.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, BOARD OF TRADE (LORD RHODES)My Lords, I assume that the noble Lord is referring to import controls other than the temporary import charge and certain minor existing controls. Since the trade deficit this year is on average less than half that for the corresponding period of last year the Government do not consider that additional import controls or building licences are necessary.
§ LORD BOOTHBYMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether he is aware that import controls, as against the 6d. addition to the ordinary tariff, are in accordance with the GATT regulations, and that the 6d. import tax that they have put on is not in accordance with the GATT regulations? I want to ask just this question: whether he thinks, with the present balance-of-payments position that the country is in a position to import all the endless luxury goods of every kind that it is doing at the present time; and whether we are in a position to build these mountainous office buildings, most of which are only half tenanted, while millions of people in the North and the Midlands are improperly accommodated so far as housing is concerned? I thought that this was by way of being a Socialist Government.
§ LORD RHODESI am much obliged to the noble Lord for his belated support for what we did last October—
§ LORD BOOTHBYYou have done nothing.
§ LORD RHODES—with regard to the import charges. On several occasions I could have done with the support of his penetrating views and voice, and I am sorry that I did not get it.
§ LORD BOOTHBYI am sorry to interrupt again, but the import charges were illegal. Import controls are legal. Import controls on luxuries should be imposed by any Socialist Government.