Mr. De la Bère:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, to enable Southern Rhodesia to provide Britain with additional tobacco, and as Britain has saved recently £4,000,000 of dollar exchange by buying Rhodesian tobacco, he will consider giving Rhodesia some of that credit ear-marked for buying tobacco machinery in the United States, having regard to the fact that Machinery for tobacco growing is almost exclusively manufactured in the United States, and costs dollars.

I am not aware of any approach on this matter from the Southern Rhodesian authorities. We are, of course, in full agreement as to the importance of the production of tobacco in that country.

Mr. De la Bère:

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that a protest has been made, and no one seems to know out there whether it is possible to get the necessary dollar credits to buy this machinery? Surely we are going to do something for Empire production?

On the contrary, I have made very detailed inquiries and I understand that no approaches have been made.

Mr. De la Bère:

Would the Financial Secretary make further inquiries, because I am afraid approaches have been made?