§ 75. Mr. Chapmanasked the President of the Board of Trade what proportion, by value, of total imports and of dollar imports, respectively, are still subject to physical import controls; and if he will set out in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table 9W showing the principal commodities or commodity groups which are still subject to such controls.
§ Mr. LowIt is estimated that in 1955 about one-fifth of our total imports, and
10W
In general, the goods which may be imported from the dollar area under Open General or Open Individual Licence are limited to certain basic foodstuffs, feedingstuffs and industrial materials. The main commodity groups subject to control are set out below in column 1, the headings being those of the Import List. With a few exceptions, the same list applies to the Soviet Bloc, Japan and Argentina. The main items in the Groups in column 1 which are subject to restriction when imported from Western Europe and other countries to which the same degree of control applies (the "relaxation" area) are set out in column 2 below. Virtually all imports from the sterling area are free from quantitative control; exceptions include sugar and jute manufactures, which are imported on Government account. Class Column 1 (Controlled from dollar area) Column 2 (Controlled from "relaxation" area) A. Food, beverages, and tobacco Live cattle — Meat and meat preparations Bacon and ham Dairy products, eggs and honey Milk products; dried, frozen and liquid egg Fish and fish preparations — Fruits and vegetables Apples, pears and potatoes Sugar and sugar preparations (most) As in column 1 Coffee, cocoa and cocoa preparations, and tea — Miscellaneous food preparations — Beverages — Tobacco and tobacco manufactures — B. Basic materials Rubber, including synthetic and reclaimed — Hardwood — Pulp and waste paper As in column 1 Miscellaneous textile fibres and waste Manila hemp Crude minerals, excluding fuels (some) Stone Metalliferous ores and metal scrap (some) Tungsten ores Miscellaneous animal and vegetable crude materials (with a number of exceptions) Flower bulbs C. Mineral fuels and lubricants All Coal, coke and manufactured fuels D. Manufactured goods Virtually all, except most non-ferrous base metals Dyestuffs and intermediates Calcium carbide Leather Newsprint, paper and board and manufactures, and other stationery Stockings and socks Lace and lace net Jute and manila hemp yarns and manufactures Jewellery Wrought iron and steel pipes and tubes Cutlery Motor vehicles and parts Clocks and watches Some cameras Scientific and optical glassware and instruments Arms and ammunition Sports goods, toys and games Smokers' requisites Basketware Curios one half of our imports from the dollar area, were subject to quantitative control. Following is a statement showing the main commodity groups which are subject to control.