Miss Rathboneasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the imports of tobacco into this country are larger or smaller than before the war and by what proportion; and whether he will estimate the amount of shipping space or tonnage that would be saved if tobacco imports were reduced by a specified proportion, say 10 per cent.?
§ Captain WaterhouseThe quantity of tobacco taken from bond and retained for home consumption last year was between 20 and 25 per cent. more than in 1938. Precise information about current imports cannot be furnished, and for that reason I am unable to give a specific reply to the last part of the Question.