HC Deb 29 November 1967 vol 755 cc126-7W
Sir J. Eden

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the threatened extinction of the vicuna, he will take steps to ban the importation of vicuna wool into this country.

Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody

Much as one may sympathise with the hon. Member's concern, I do not consider this would be an appropriate use of the Board of Trade's powers. It is our policy to impose import controls only for broad economic or commercial purposes consistently with our international obligations. Nor would the action proposed be effective. Even if our wool textile industry were prevented from obtaining this wool, there is nothing to prevent their competitors in other countries from doing so.