HC Deb 17 February 1947 vol 433 c135W
Mr. Sharp

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the comparative figures of imports of tobacco from the U.S.A., Rhodesia and other main sources since 1938 to the present time; and what prospects there are of increasing the supplies obtained from Rhodesia.

Sir S. Cripps

Imports of tobacco in each year from 1938 to 1946 were as follow:

Year. United States. Rhodesia. Other Sources.
million lbs.
1938 257 20 69
1939 129 16 68
1940 59 24 59
1941 13o 20 64
1942 180 25 60
1943 291 21 42
1944 180 13 36
1945 310 21 39
1946 366 24 44
1,902 184 481

The prospects of increasing our supplies from Rhodesia depend primarily on the available output. We have always imported as much tobacco as Rhodesia has offered us on suitable conditions as regards Price and quality.