§ 59. Sir ARTHUR STEEL-MAITLANDasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has any further information to give to the House as to the progress of negotiations with the Canadian Government with reference to the embargo on the importation of British potatoes into Canada?
§ Mr. N. BUXTONI am afraid I am not in a position to make any further statement on this subject.
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDWill the right hon. Gentleman say when he will be in a position to make a statement, as this is a very urgent matter at the present moment in many parts of the country?
§ Mr. BUXTONThe Canadian Government has its own reasons for its decision in this matter, and we cannot deny it the right to take action to safeguard itself against disease.
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDDoes the right hon. Gentleman say he is not yet in a position to make any further statement? Can he tell us when he will be able to give an answer which has any bearing on the previous question?
§ Mr. BUXTONI said that I am not in a position to add anything to previous answers.
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDIn view of the unsatisfactory terms of the right hon. Gentleman's answer, I beg to give notice that I will raise this matter on an early occasion.
Earl WINTERTONMay I ask whether the attitude of the right hon. Gentleman towards this question is of the same derisive character—
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe Noble Lord will have an opportunity to discuss this matter at an early date.
64. Brigadier-General BROWNasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, seeing that the placing of an embargo on all imported early potatoes from foreign countries which can be passed through an inch-and-a-half riddle would not raise the cost to the consumer, he will take action in this direction?
§ Mr. BUXTONI am advised that the embargo proposed by the hon. and gallant Member would be in conflict with the provisions of the International Convention for the Abolition of Import and Export Prohibitions and Restrictions, as well as with a number of commercial treaties with individual countries, and I am therefore not prepared to take the action suggested.
§ Mr. WESTWOODWill the right hon. Gentleman make representations to the Prime Minister to have a White Paper, presented to this House giving the clauses of the Treaty which prevent us from dealing with, this particular problem? May I have an answer?
§ Mr. BUXTONThe Prime Minister has heard the suggestion and will give the matter his attention.
§ Mr. WESTWOODThe question I put was whether the right hon. Gentleman, being responsible for agriculture, would make representations to the Prime Minister.