§ 81. Mr. Teelingasked the President of the Board of Trade why Messrs. Milton Abelson, Ltd., of Mappin House, 156, Oxford Street, London, are not allowed to sell in the home market lace which they purchased for the export market but cannot sell there; whether he is aware 54W that, as a result, many thousands of pounds spent in the purchase of this lace remains frozen with no means of earning profits; and what is his general policy as regards such capital tied up in goods which cannot find an export market and do not need coupons for sale in the home market.
§ Mr. BottomleyI am not aware that this firm has made any special request for permission to sell, on the home market, lace which they purchased for export. On the general question of the sale of frustrated exports on the home market I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Newark (Mr. Shephard) on 13th November, 1947, a copy of which I am sending him. The question whether or not the goods need coupons for sale on the home market is not relevant here. Our only object is to ensure that goods are not sold on the home market which, with some extra effort on the part of their owners or manufacturers, could be exported.