§ 82. Mr. Price-Whiteasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the availability of loofahs for importation from British East Africa; and whether he will make them available to the general public in this country in the same quantities as sponges are made available through importation from hard-currency foreign countries.
§ Sir S. CrippsSome imports of loofahs from British East Africa and other countries are being licensed for industrial purposes only. Owing to our balance of payments position, it is not possible to import them for other purposes at present. Sponges do not come, in the main, from hard currency sources. They are imported primarily for commercial use and only those unsuitable for this purpose are made available for sale to the general public