asked the Chancellor of the exchequer what amount of money has been expended in U.S.A. since 1st January, 1946, on the purchase of children's so-called comics.

I do not know.

Surely, that is a quite unprecedented reply? May I ask my right hon. Friend why he cannot give the information?

It is a briefer reply than the familiar clichè—"I regret that this information is not available." It means that the reason why I do not know and cannot find out is that the trade returns do not analyse the item "Newspapers, periodicals and printed books" to give the information which is required by the hon. Member.

In view of that very unsatisfactory reply, and of the fact that we are spending a very large amount of money on these so-called periodicals, if I were to give my right hon. Friend a copy of "The Big Shot", would he realise that, however suitable they are for American children, they are quite unsuitable to the more robust temperament of British children?

I shall be glad to be furnished with any relevant information, and I would like to tell the hon. Lady that, as from 1st January last, these children's comics may no longer be imported in bulk. They can only come in as individual copies, and I do not know how many come in.