§ 46. Mr. MACPHERSONasked the Prime Minister if he is aware of the anxiety there is among all engaged in the agricultural industry in Scotland on account of the disaster which is threatened to that industry by the uncontrolled and subsidised importation of foreign oats and wheat under the cost of production; and what action the Government proposes to take?
§ 48. Mr. BOOTHBYasked the Prime Minister whether His Majesty's Government will consider the possibility of placing an embargo upon imported cereals which are subsidised by foreign Governments?
§ The PRIME MINISTERRepresentations have been received in the sense of the first part of the right hon. and 1678 learned Member's question. As regards the last part of his question and the question by the hon. Member for East Aberdeen (Mr. Boothby) I have nothing to add to what I said yesterday in reply to questions on this subject.
§ Mr. MACPHERSONHas the Prime Minister taken into consideration the fact that nothing will be done until April, when this question comes before the Economic Committee of the League of Nations; and will he meanwhile, for his own satisfaction and the satisfaction of the House, appoint a committee to investigate the true facts of the case, and find out the indignation which is expressed by all classes of the agricultural community, and so prepare himself for the discussion in April?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI can assure my right hon. Friend that what he suggests should be done by a committee is being done at the present moment by the ordinary staff at the disposal of the Ministry of Agriculture.
§ Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND-TROYTEIs the PRIME Minister aware that this matter is just as important to English as to Scottish agriculture?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat is so.
Major WOODIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Reichstag Economic Council has condemned this policy as a subsidy from Germany in aid of the British consumer?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have seen a statement to that effect, but whether that has been done or not I cannot say.