§ 49. Sir WILLIAM WAYLANDasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that 600,000 boxes of Russian butter are estimated to arrive in this country during the coming season; whether there is reason to anticipate increased butter imports from other Continental sources; and whether he proposes to continue and extend the work recently carried out in the North of England with a view to encouraging retailers to stock Home and Empire butter in preference to foreign butter?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for DOMINION AFFAIRS (Mr. J. H. Thomas)I have been asked to reply. As regards the first and second parts of the question, my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade informs me that he has no official information as to future imports of butter from Russian and other Continental sources. As regards the third part of the question, the canvass of retailers in the North, which is directed to encouraging the sale of Empire butter from Home and overseas, is still in progress and the question of its possible extension is at present under consideration by the Empire Marketing Board. I should add that it has so far proved very successful.
§ Sir W. WAYLANDMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman to keep his weather eye on the situation, which, from the point of view of home and Empire butter, is very critical?
§ Mr. THOMASI have got both eyes on it.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that far heavier imports of butter came from Russia before the War?
§ Mr. THOMASI could not say anything about that.