HC Deb 04 November 1929 vol 231 cc591-4
25. Brigadier-General CLIFTON BROWN

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, seeing that the consuming public have gained no advantage from the dumping of foreign bounty-fed cereals on the English market and injury has been done to our agricultural producers, he will instruct the British delegation to raise this question at the Economic Conference of the league of Nations with a view to securing international action to prevent this abuse of the most-favoured-nation clause?

96. Mr. HURD

asked the President of the Board of Trade the terms of the assent given by the German representatives at the Geneva Economic Conference to the principle that there should be no bounty-fed competition, especially in agricultural products; and whether he will represent to the German Government that the German license system, as applied to exported wheat, is in effect an infringement of any such understanding?

97. Mr. LAMBERT

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make representations to the German Government that the drawback assistance given to the export of German wheat constitutes a breach of the conditions agreed to by the Economic Conference at Geneva to which the German Government was a party?

Mr. GILLETT (Secretary, Overseas Trade Department)

I have been asked to reply. The recommendation of the World Economic Conference which met In May, 1927, at Geneva, was in the following terms: The Conference draws the attention of the various Governments to the true nature of direct or indirect subsidies, which are merely a palliative, and expresses the hope that Governments will, so far as possible, refrain from having recourse to them. The recommendations of the Conference were not, as such, binding on the Governments whose nationals took part in it, but at the meeting of the Council of the League of Nations held in June, 1927, the German representative stated that his Government approved the Report of the World Economic Conference and signified their readiness to give effect to its recommendations. In view of the nature of the recommendation, I do not think that representations to the German Government on this point would serve any useful purpose. But I will gladly consider in consultation with the British member of the Economic Committee of the League of Nations whether it can be usefully examined by that body.

Mr. HANNON

Has any single country in Europe reduced its tariff barriers since the Economic Conference at Geneva?

Mr. GILLETT

I shall have to ask for notice of that question.

Mr. HURD

Does the hon. Gentleman not think if this Government were to say to Germany "This has to stop" it would stop?

42. Mr. BUTLER

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can now make any statement of policy with regard particularly to the arable section of the agricultural industry?

The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Noel Buxton)

I am prepared to announce the Government agricultural policy as soon as a suitable opportunity can be arranged.

Earl WINTERTON

In view of the fact that the right hon. Gentleman has given the same answer to this question for the period of the last three months, will he inform us what he defines a suitable opportunity as being; and, if a day is asked through the usual channels for a discussion of the agricultural policy of the Government, will he be prepared to make a full statement, saying what his policy both in an administrative and a legislative sense is going to be?

Mr. BUXTON

I am very anxious that an early opportunity should be secured, and perhaps one of the many opportunities arising from the rights of private Members of a Debate will be used for the purpose. I hope so, and that it will be at an early date.

Mr. KEDWARD

Does the right hon. Gentleman propose to call a three-party Conference to deal with the question of Agriculture?

56. Mr. OSWALD LEWIS

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps, if any he proposes to take to assist the arable farmers of this country to withstand the competition of the German wheat at present being imported into this country and under what amounts in effect to a Government bounty?

74. Mr. ALBERY

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he proposes to take any action as a result of the resolution recently passed by the Council of Agriculture with reference to the dumping of foreign wheat in this country at a meeting at which he was present?

Mr. BUXTON

I would refer the hon. Members to the statement which I made during the Debate on this subject on Wednesday last. I hope to deal with proposals for the benefit of arable as well as other farmers in the general statement of policy which will be made as soon as opportunity offers.

Mr. SKELTON

What steps is the right hon. Gentleman taking to make sure that that opportunity will be given soon?

Mr. BUXTON

I have already answered a question on that subject.

Mr. SKELTON

The right hon. Gentleman's previous answer was that he did not know. Will he take steps to make the opportunity as early as possible, in view of the vast importance of the topic?

Mr. BUXTON

Perhaps the hon. Member will communicate through the usual channels.

Earl WINTERTON

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that when a day is asked for through the usual channels it is usually for a Vote of Censure? [Interruption.] On a point of Order, this is a serious matter. All that the Opposition are asking for is an elucida- tion from the right hon. Gentleman as to when the statement is to be made. In answer, he says that it can be made on the occasion of a debate on a private Member's day. There is no private Member's Motion down on this subject. Am I not entitled to ask the right hon. Gentleman to elucidate more clearly what he means by the "first opportunity"?

Mr. SPEAKER

That was the answer which the right hon. Gentleman gave to some previous question. The question cannot be dealt with now.

Earl WINTERTON

I beg to give notice—[Interruption.]

Mr. SPEAKER

Hon. Members must allow the Noble Lord to give notice.

Earl WINTERTON

I beg to give notice that I shall raise this question on the Adjournment this evening, with a view of elucidating from the right hon. Gentleman when this statement is going to be made.

64. Mr. HURD

asked the Minister of Agriculture what information he can give as to the intentions of France, Austria and Italy to adopt methods comparable with those in force in Germany to stimulate the exportation of cereals and other competitive agricultural produce to the British market?

Mr. BUXTON

So far as Austria is concerned, my information is to the effect that it has been decided to draft a Bill empowering the Federal Government to introduce a system of import certificates applicable to the export of meals and cattle. As regards the intention of other countries in this respect, I have no information other than that which has appeared in the Press.

Mr. HURD

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will take steps to find out what is happening in respect of these other countries, especially Poland?

Mr. BUXTON

Certainly.