§ 61. Mr. W. B. TAYLORasked the Minister of Agriculture the reasons which prevent the export of potatoes from this country to Canada and to the United States?
§ Mr. N. BUXTONThe importation of potatoes into Canada and the United States of America from this country was prohibited by the Governments of those countries on account of the existence of wart disease in the United Kingdom.
§ Major ROSSHas the right hon. Gentleman offered this country and the Dominions potatoes certified as being from areas free from disease, and, if so, what reply has been received?
§ Mr. BUXTONYes, we have been in communication, but we have not been successful in our negotiations.
§ Major ROSSCan the right hon. Gentleman say on what grounds Canada refuses to accept potatoes from this country?
§ Mr. BUXTONCanada holds the right to take every precaution against disease, which, we cannot deny, exists in some quarters.
§ Mr. C. WILLIAMSIs that not largely due to the continued importation of potatoes from the Continent to this country.
§ Mr. BUXTONNo, Sir, I think not.
§ Sir ARTHUR STEEL-MAITLANDIs the right hon. Gentleman prepared to give certificates of freedom from wart disease, and, in that case, would not the Canadian Government be likely to accept them?
§ Mr. BUXTONWe should be prepared to do so in certain areas, but the Canadian Government are not satisfied with that.
§ 67. Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGEasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the risk of infection from black scab and other potato diseases by the unrestricted importation of foreign potatoes; and what steps he is taking to prevent this risk?
§ Mr. BUXTONThe importation of potatoes into this country is not unrestricted. Importation from certain countries is entirely prohibited and from others allowed only under restrictions. In all cases where importation is allowed, the potatoes are required to be accompanied by an official certificate of health. I am sending copies of the relevant Orders to the hon. and gallant Member.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGEIs the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that the prohibitions are working satisfactorily?
§ Mr. BUXTONYes, Sir.
§ Sir JOSEPH LAMBDoes the right hon. Gentleman consider that the certificates given by the French are of more value than the certificates that he is prepared to give to the Canadians?
§ Mr. BUXTONNo, Sir. I cannot say that.
§ 68. Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGEasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, seeing that the crops of home-grown potatoes are more than sufficient to supply the consumption demand till such time as new home-grown potatoes are normally ready for use, he will take steps to restrict the import of foreign potatoes, by licence or otherwise, until the necessity for their free import arises?
§ Mr. BUXTONI would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply which I gave to a question by the hon. and gallant Member for Newbury (Brigadier-General Brown) on the 17th instant, of which I am sending him a copy.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGECan the right hon. Gentleman say whether any steps are being taken to deal with this situation?
§ Mr. BUXTONThe restrictions on the import of foreign potatoes in this manner has been precluded by the Geneva Convention, which was signed by the late Government.
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYWhy cannot the right hon. Gentleman adopt exactly the same attitude as Canada and the United States' have adopted?
§ Captain CROOKSHANKCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Convention is in force? Has it been ratified?
§ Mr. BUXTONYes, it is in force.
§ 69. Lieut. - Colonel SPENDER-CLAYasked the Minister of Agriculture if he has received any information to the effect that the ravages of the Colorado beetle have extended to the St. Malo district, in France; and what steps have been taken to protect the potato industry in this country from the introduction of that pest?
§ Mr. BUXTONNo, Sir; on the contrary, the French Government has given its assurance that the Colorado beetle does not exist within a radius of 250 kilometres round St. Malo. The importation of potatoes from France is restricted to those officially certified as having been grown more than 40 kilometres from any place where the beetle exists or has existed.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGEWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of taking up the same attitude towards France as Canada takes up towards this country?
§ Mr. BUXTONWe are very strict in regard to imports.
§ Mr. C. WILLIAMSDoes the right hon. Gentleman ever take any steps in regard to these certified potatoes to Bee that the certificate is correct?
§ Mr. BUXTONYes, Sir. The restrictions are very rigorously exercised.