§ 36. Mr. NOEL BUXTONasked the Minister of Agriculture if he will indicate the nature of the help to be given to British agriculture under the scheme for assisting the marketing of Empire produce?
Mr. GUINNESSAs the right hon. Gentleman is aware, the Ministry is conducting an investigation into the marketing of agricultural produce in this country, and the question of devising plans for the promotion of improved methods which can form part of the proposals in regard to Empire marketing is receiving careful consideration.
§ Mr. BUXTONWill the right hon. Gentleman undertake that agriculture in this country will have at least its proportionate share of the benefits in relation to the produce of this country?
Mr. GUINNESSClearly, I cannot specify any proposals at this stage, but we hope to bring both the Dominion and the British interests within the scope of the proposals on fair terms.
§ Mr. SKELTONWill the right hon. Gentleman see that no new competition with British farmers results from this grant of £1,000,000?
§ 45. Mr. HURDasked the Prime Minister if, in view of the decision of the Government to include home produce within the scope of the £1,000,000 grant to assist the marketing of Empire produce, a qualified representative of the British agricultural interest will now be added to the Imperial Economic Committee?
§ 12. Mr. W. BAKERasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will state the present position regarding the promised grant of £1,000,000 for the development of Dominion marketing?
§ 47. Mr. SNELLasked the Prime Minister whether a decision has been reached respecting the proposal to allot the sum of £1,000,000 to the more efficient marketing of Empire produce?
§ 48. Mr. RAMSDENasked the Prime Minister whether he can now state how the £1,000,000 which is to be devoted to the marketing of Empire products is to be spent?
§ 51. Sir R. HAMILTONasked the Prime Minister if he can give the House any information as to the proposed Government scheme for assistance in the marketing of Dominion products?
§ 57. Dr. DRUMMOND SHIELSasked the Prime Minister if he has any statement to make in regard to the recommendation of the Imperial Economic Committee that £1,000,000 should be granted for Empire marketing?
§ Mr. AMERYI have been asked to reply to these questions. His Majesty's Government are not yet in a position to make an announcement, as details of the arrangements proposed are under discussion with the Dominions, but they hope to do so shortly.
§ Mr. HURDHas not my right hon. Friend overlooked the real point of my question No. 45, namely, whether a qualified representative of the British agricultural interest will now be added to the Committee?
§ Mr. AMERYThat is one of the arrangements which is under consideration with the Dominion Governments, and on which the Prime Minister hopes to make an announcement very shortly.
§ Mr. HURDInasmuch as home produce is now to be brought within the scope of the Committee, does it not follow that there should be a representative of British agriculture on that Committee?
§ Mr. AMERYNo, Sir. Home produce may come within the scope of the money that is being spent, but the Imperial Economic Committee is a different body. 1018 The whole of these questions are under discussion with the Dominion Governments at this moment.
§ Mr. A. V. ALEXANDERIf the Government adopt the recommendation that there should be a separate executive committee for spending the grant, will they see that British agriculture is represented on the spending committee?
§ Mr. HARRISWill the Colonial Secretary consider making representations to the Dominion Governments that British farmers are much poorer off than the Dominion farmers?
§ Mr. HURDDoes my right hon. Friend recollect that when Mr. Bruce, the Prime Minister of Australia, was here, he and other Dominion representatives distinctly said that the first place in British markets belonged to the British home producer?