§ Mr. Russellasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give a list of commodities of which the Government were the sole importers in 1945 and which are now imported on private account, together with the date on which each change was made.
§ Sir H. ShawcrossThe information asked for is as follows:
BOARD OF TRADE
Commodity and Date of Reversion
Acetic acid: June, 1949.
Acetic anhydride: June, 1949.
Acetone: September, 1948.
Arsenic: July, 1946.
83WCommodity and Date of Reversion
Bagasse: January, 1946.
Beeswax: May, 1945.
Bristles: October, 1946.
Bromine: May, 1946.
Buffalo hides: December, 1947
Building board: March, 1949
Butyl alcohol: June, 1949.
Butyl carbitol: April, 1946.
Carbitol: April, 1946.
Carbonate of potash: January, 1950
Carbon black: July, 1946.
Casein—lactic and rennet: January, 1950
Caustic potash: January, 1950.
Cellosolve: April, 1946.
Coir yarn and fibre: February, 1947.
Cotton (raw): Purchasing taken over by Raw Cotton Commission, January, 1948.
Cotton linters: January, 1949.
Cotton waste: November, 1949.
Derris and other rotenone containing materials: March, 1948.
Diethanolamine: April, 1946.
Esparto: January, 1950.
Ethylene glycol: April, 1946
Flax: January, 1949.
Freon gas: June, 1946.
Gall nuts: July, 1946.
Glue stock: June, 1945.
Goatskins: January, 1948.
Graphite (Madagascar): August, 1946
Hemp—Indian or Sunn: August, 1948
Hemp—Manila, sisal and other hard hemps: January, 1949.
Hides and Calfskins—imported raw: January, 1950.
Hoghair: January, 1946.
Industrial Alcohol: June, 1949
Jute Webbing: March, 1946.
Kapok: March, 1946.
Kips—East India tanned: January, 1950
Kraft Liner Board: January, 1948.
Liquid Rosin: October, 1948.
Mercury: November, 1946.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone: April, 1946 Mica: December, 1945.
Molasses: April, 1950.
New Zealand Sheep and Lamb Pelts: August, 1947.
Oiticica Oil: November, 1948.
Paper (certain descriptions): September, 1945.
Pine Oil: April, 1949.
Pine Pitch: December, 1946.
Pine Tar: July, 1946.
Pine Tar Oil: December, 1946.
Plywood: May, 1950—other than from Finland, Sweden, U.S.S.R. and dollar currency sources.
Propylene Glycol: April, 1946.
Pulpwood: April, 1950.
Pyrethrum Flowers: March, 1948
Ramie: March, 1946.
Red Squill Powder: January, 1946.
Rosin: April, 1949.
Rubber and Latex: January, 1947.
Rutile: March, 1946.
Shellac: April, 1945.
Silk (raw): January, 1946.
Silk (Japanese raw): November, 1948
Silk (Waste and Noils): February, 1946
Straw (for Papermaking): July, 1949.
84WCommodity and Date of Reversion
Sulphite Lye: August, 1945.
Synthetic Rubber (Perbunan): October, 1947.
Synthetic Rubber (Neoprene): May, 1947.
Synthetic Rubber (Butyl and G.R.S): March, 1949.
Talc and Prophyllite: February, 1946.
Tanning Materials: May, 1949.
Thanite: May, 1945.
Timber:
Certain exotic hardwoods; October, 1946.
Softwood (including Mining Timber): October, 1950—other than from Eastern Europe (Finland excepted) and dollar currency sources.
Hardwood: January, 1950.
Staves for beer barrels: October, 1946
Tung Oil: October, 1947.
Turpentine: April, 1949.
Veneers:
Constructional: October, 1948
Utility Face: March, 1949.
Vulcanised Fibre: June, 1947.
Woodpulp:
For Rayon, Cellulose, etc.: July, 1946
For Paper: April, 1950.
Wool (raw): The Joint Organisation took over existing stocks of wool in mid-1945, and was responsible for purchase of 1945–46 wool clip. Private trade was resumed with the 1946–47 wool clip, i.e., from July, 1946.
Woolled Sheepskins (for fellmongering): July, 1946.
In addition, the import by private traders of Asphalt, Diatomite, plastic raw materials and certain miscellaneous chemicals was resumed in 1945, following the cessation of Lend/Lease imports.
For two items, Manila Copal and Gum Damar, purchases on Government account commenced in April and May, 1946, respectively, and reverted to private trade in November, 1948, and September, 1946, respectively.
MINISTRY OF HEALTH
Commodity and Date of Reversion.
Barbitone: February, 1947.
Ethyl-l-Methyl-Butyl-Malonic Ester: February, 1947.
Globaline tablets: February, 1947.
Pancreatin: February, 1947.
Penicillin: February, 1947.
Phenobarbitone: February, 1947.
Sulphadiazine: February, 1947.
MINISTRY OF FOOD
Commodity and Date of Reversion.
Pulses: March, 1950—July, 1950.
Canary Seed: January, 1950.
Sago Flour: February, 1950.
Castor Seed and Oil: January, 1950.
Poppy Seed and Oil: January, 1950.
Rape Seed and Oil: January, 1950.
Niger Seed and Oil: October, 1950.
Vegetable Oils—Olive: April, 1947.
Vitamin "A" Oil: During 1950.
85WCanned Meats (other than Canned Corned Meat): September, 1949(a)
Rabbits: March, 1950.
Poultry: July, 1950.
Salmon (Fresh): April, 1950.
Frozen Fish: April, 1950.
Herrings (Fresh): October, 1949(b)
Canned Fish—Brisling: May, 1951.
Canned Fish—Mackerel: December, 1949.
Canned Fruits (some): End of 1948 and during 1949.
Canned Tomatoes: June, 1948.
Canned Tomato Puree: December, 1947.
Canned Tomato Juice: June, 1948.
Canned Beans: December, 1947.
Canned Peas: October, 1949.
Canned Fruit Juices for Retail Sale: February, 1951.
Fruit Juice, bulk: September, 1949.
Cider Apples: July, 1949.
Spices (some): During 1947.
Pepper: December, 1946.
Essential Oils (some): September, 1947, January, 1948.
Pectin: October, 1949.
Pomace: May, 1949.
Cheese (non-ration types): Between November, 1949 and July, 1950.
Peels in brine: December, 1948.
Cherries in S.O.2: December, 1948.
Edible nuts, except peanuts: between October, 1949, and May, 1950.
Oranges (sweet): May, 1950.
Oranges (bitter): May, 1950.
Lemons: October, 1948.
Grapefruit: May, 1950.
Apples: January, 1951 (except from dollar sources.
Onions: end of 1946.
Onions (dehydrated): March, 1947—powdered; July, 1948—kibbled.
Fruit pulp: March, 1950.
New Potatoes from Irish Republic: October, 1949.
Carrots (old): May, 1950.
Seed Potatoes from Irish Republic: Autumn, 1950.
Jam and Marmalade: December, 1946.
Tea: January, 1951.
Cocoa (raw): November, 1950.
Tartaric Acid: April, 1948.
Citric Acid: April, 1948.
Casings (from U.S.A. and Canada): March. 1946.
Dates (Iraq): October, 1950.
Dried Figs: August, 1949.
Desiccated Cocoanut: April, 1950.
MINISTRY OF SUPPLY
Commodity and Date of Reversion
Antimony ore: August, 1945.
Chrome ore: November, 1950.
Cryolite: February, 1947.
Ferrous scrap: April, 1949.
Ferro-alloys, various: various dates in 1946 and 1947.
Iron powder: various dates in 1946 and 1947.
(a) Australia and New Zealand end of 1950, owing to contracts.
(b) Prior to October, 1949, Government purchases were confined to Norwegian herrings.
86WIron ore: March, 1946.
Magnesite: July, 1945.
Molybdenum ore: January, 1947.
Pig iron: April, 1949.
Quartz crystals: June, 1946.
Semi-finished steel: April, 1949 Silicon (metal): July, 1947.
Tin (metal): November, 1949 Tungsten ore: August, 1946.
Vanadium ore: May, 1945.
Zinc concentrates: May, 1946
MINISTRY OF FUEL AND POWER
NIL
MINISTRY OF WORKS
NIL