§ 99. Mr. Price-Whiteasked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent current trade agreements, entered into with the French Government, provide for the importation of French slates; and what is the annual tonnage limit for such imports.
§ Mr. J. EdwardsThe French authorities have offered 6,000 tons of roofing slates for 1949 and have been informed that the import of this quantity will be permitted if import licences applications are received.
§ 100. Mr. Price-Whiteasked the President of the Board of Trade what is the tonnage of French, Italian and Portuguese roofing slates, respectively, that have been imported through South Coast ports during the past three years or nearest 264W convenient accounting period under trade agreements or otherwise.
§ Mr. J. EdwardsI regret that imports of roofing slates through South Coast ports are not recorded separately in the trade returns. I circulate below figures giving the total imports into the United Kingdom from France, Italy and Portugal during the past three years.
Following are the figures:
— 1946 1947 1948 Tons Tons Tons From France … 672 696 2,720 From Italy … 50 2,135 3,421 From Portugal … 2,859 5,677 2,674