§ 78. Commander BELLAIRSasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that advertisements have been inserted in the newspapers on behalf of the Empire Marketing Board urging the public to buy Irish eggs and Irish butter; and whether, in view of the 26 state of agriculture, he will take steps to discontinue advertisements paid for by the British taxpayers of produce from countries that give us no preference in their markets?
§ Mr. LUNNThe declared policy of the Empire Marketing Board is to invite the public to buy first the produce of their own country, and next the produce of the other parts of the Empire. Full weight has been given to the claims of the home producer in every branch of the Board's activities, and during the last few months, in addition to much general publicity on behalf of the home farmer, special press advertisements have been widely inserted in favour of such homo agricultural products as National Mark Eggs, Tomatoes and Cucumbers. In reply to the second part of the question, without discussing the principle involved, I would remind the hon. Member that it is not the case that no preference is accorded by the Irish Free State.