Spectacle Lenses (Export)

Oral Answers to Questions — Trade and Commerce – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 10 February 1949.

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Photo of Mr Arthur Symonds Mr Arthur Symonds , Cambridge 12:00, 10 February 1949

asked the President of the Board of Trade what quantities of spectacle lenses have been exported to the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics since July, 1948.

Photo of Mr Harold Wilson Mr Harold Wilson , Ormskirk

I am unable to give the figure for spectacle lenses only, but the number of lenses for spectacles, goggles, eyeglasses or monocles exported to the U.S.S.R. from July to December, 1948, was 168.

Photo of Mr Arthur Symonds Mr Arthur Symonds , Cambridge

Will my right hon. Friend bring this answer to the notice of the opticians, because some of them are suggesting to their customers that the delay in the supply of glasses here is not so much due to the vastly increased demand as to the fact that we are exporting lenses by the million to the U.S.S.R.?

Photo of Mr Harold Wilson Mr Harold Wilson , Ormskirk

I hope that the figure of 168 will lay that particular rumour.

Photo of Mr Vernon Bartlett Mr Vernon Bartlett , Bridgwater

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what proportion of that export consisted of monocles?

Photo of Mr Harold Wilson Mr Harold Wilson , Ormskirk

I have made clear that the figure is the total for all kinds of lenses and I cannot split it.