§ Mr. A. Edwardsasked the Minister of Production if he can give an assurance that the gentlemen's agreement between liberated countries and the United Kingdom, U.S.A. and Canada, relating to the allocating of purchases of hides and leathers from Argentina and other South American countries through the agency of the combined Board safeguards this country's interests as the principal agent in handling these goods in peace-time.
§ Mr. LytteltonThe arrangement to which the hon. Member refers is an interim one designed to make available to liberated areas certain quantities of hides and leather, of which a part only will394W come from South America. In present circumstances it is not possible fully to use the normal channels of trade for the transactions, but the point raised by the hon. Member will be borne in mind in connection with any longer term arrangements.