HC Deb 11 February 1948 vol 447 cc78-9W
91 and 100. Mr. A. Edward Davies

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) what instructions or recommendations he has issued with the object of restricting or prohibiting the importation into the Colonies of china and earthenware tablewares, decorated or otherwise, from the United Kingdom;

(2) why the import into Colonial markets of china and earthenware table-wares has been completely prohibited from the United Kingdom.

Mr. Rees-Williams

The guidance which my right hon. Friend has issued to Colonial Governments about the continued restriction of certain classes of imports, including decorated fine china and earthenware, was summarised in an announcement published by the Board of Trade Journal on 3rd January, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy. Briefly, Colonial Governments have been asked to restrict the import into their territories of those kinds of china and earthenware which this country can sell for dollars and other hard currencies. The import of other kinds of china and earthenware is only restricted if the Colonial Government considers that the purchase of them would be an unwise use of the Colony's financial resources.