§ 29 and 61. General M'CALMONTasked (1) the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture. (Ireland) whether he has represented to the Ministry of Food that the prohibition of the export of Irish butter will seriously affect the production of butter in the country, and that exporters who have to abandon their trade will find serious difficulty in regaining it; (2) the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether the Irish demand for the prohibition of the export of Irish butter was made by representatives from many parts of the country; whether he is satisfied that the amount of butter being produced at the time of the issue of the Order will be not more than sufficient for the needs of the country; whether the poorer classes in Ireland can afford to pay for butter instead of margarine; and whether he will consider the advisability, in the interests of maximum production, of allowing bonâ fide export firms to continue a proportion of their former trade under carefully controlled licences?
Mr. PARKER (Lord of the Treasury)The export of Irish butter was prohibited after consultation with the Irish Department of Agriculture and in accordance 1119 with representations from many parts of the country. It has become necessary, in order to effect economies in transport, to arrange that Ireland should rely upon her own production of butter and margarine. It is, moreover, clear that the amount of butter being produced there at the present time will not do more than suffice for the needs of the country. So soon as any surplus becomes available those producers and merchants who in 1916 exported butter to Great Britain will be allowed to resume their export trade, subject to the necessary control of distribution by the Ministry of Food.
§ General M'CALMONTWill the hon. Gentleman answer that part of question 61 which asks whether he is satisfied that the poorer classes in Ireland are capable of paying the price for good Irish butter?
Mr. PARKERI understand that there is a certain amount of margarine produced in Ireland which will be at their disposal and which was formerly taken by the Army.
§ Mr. PRINGLEAre we to understand that Ireland is to retain butter on the prewar basis of consumption, while butter is unobtainable in many parts of this country?
Mr. PARKERI cannot answer the question beyond saying that this action has been taken in close consultation with the Department of Agriculture in Ireland, which knows all about the conditions.
§ Mr. PRINGLEIs this action taken by the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture, Ireland, in order that he may ultimately become a member of the Sinn Fein Government?
§ Mr. BOLANDIs the hon. Gentleman aware that for a great number of years past the winter production of butter in Ireland has never been sufficient for the needs of the Irish people, and that they have always had in years past to import Colonial or other butter in order to make up the deficit?
Mr. PARKERThe hon. Member knows more about these questions than I do. This action has been taken because the export of butter into Ireland has been stopped.
§ 56. Sir A. YEOasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if he can see his way to distribute butter and its substitutes to retailers and institute a Regulation, with fines for evading the Regulation, that all such retailers open their shops for the sale of these articles at one and the same hour and thus avoid to a great extent the formation of queues and prevent purchasers obtaining double quantities of these articles?
Mr. PARKERButter and its substitutes are at present distributed to retailers, and local food control committees have been given powers enabling them to adjust any existing inequalities in this respect. It would be within the power of a committee, under the Local Distribution Order of 22nd December, to apply within their area, with the consent of the Food Controller, the suggestions contained in the second part of the question, but. I am not satisfied that they would have the effect desired.