§ Sir T. Mooreasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Lease-Lend Act has tended to hamper or restrict exports from this country to the United States of America or whether it is still the policy of His Majesty's Government and the United States of America Government to encourage such exports, especially of luxury articles and garments?
§ Captain WaterhouseI would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the White Paper about the use of materials received under the Lend-Lease Act (Cmd. 6311). The agreed arrangements will affect exports of certain classes of articles that incorporate materials of types which are subject to restriction in the United States on grounds of short supply and which we obtain from the United States. The Lease-Lend Act has assisted us to divert to direct war purposes productive capacity1144W and scarce materials which would otherwise have to be devoted to exports. Nevertheless it remains important for us to continue to earn dollars by means of such exports as are acceptable to the United States.