§ Captain Pluggeasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can now give the public detailed guidance as to what are overseas non-essentials the purchase of which should be avoided?
§ Sir J. SimonBy far the greater part of the imports into this country are regulated either by the operations of the different controllers or by the system of import licensing. The whole of this machineryis kept under continuous scrutiny, and it is adapted and extended from time to time in such a way as to restrict more and more the volume of non-essential imports. The effective working of this machinery can be greatly facilitated if the public abstains, so far as possible, from the purchase of imported goods; but, as I have indicated on previous occasions, for example, in broadcasting upon the Budget, I do not think it is practicable to give specific guidance to the public as to particular commodities the purchase of which should or should not be avoided.
§ Captain Pluggeasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that in broadcasts, intended to promote saving, the public has been asked to cut down its buying of things the Government need; and whether he is in a position to state what those things are?
§ Sir J. SimonEconomy in the buying of things the Government need is only a part of the essential requirement that the citizen should avoid non-essential expenditure in every direction as much as he can.