§ Mr. Stokesasked the President of the Board of Trade how much was paid for United States tobacco imported into this country in each of the years 1938 to 1944.
§ Mr. Ellis Smith, pursuant to his reply (OFFICIAL REPORT, 12th December, 1945; Vol. 417, c. 416), supplied the following statement:
AMOUNT PAID DURING 1938/1944 FOR LEAF TOBACCO IMPORTED FROM THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. £ 1938 17,622,014 1939 8,173,211 1940 3,594,048 1941 1,568,817 1942 Nil 1943 17,639.751 1944 20,124,223 NOTES.—1. For 1938 to May 1941 the figures are for the amount spent on private purchases and the c.i.f. value is shown. For 1943/1944 they are for payments made on Government Account and the f.o.b. value is shown. 2. The actual amount expended in any one year does not necessarily agree with the imports, as payment is made in advance. The drop in payments in 1939/1940 and in part of 1941 was due to consumption of stocks. 3. Lend Lease applied from June, 1941, until May, 1943, when no payments were made. From 10th May, 1943, payment in cash was made for civilian supplies, but Lend Lease continued for supplies to the Services. 4. In addition, small payments have been made toy the British-American Tobacco Co., Ltd., from their own funds in the United States.