§ 21. Mr. LAMBERTasked the Minister of Agriculture if he can announce the result of his negotiations with the National Association of Millers with regard to applying the quota system for the use of British wheat?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThe Government's proposals with regard to a quota for home-grown wheat are now being examined by the various interests con- 1504 cerned, including the National Association of British and Irish Millers. The negotiations are still in progress.
§ Mr. HARRISHas my right hon. Friend consulted the bakers and also the consumers of bread?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI have had consultations with all the interests concerned.
§ 27. Mr. HANNONasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is now prepared to state to the House the detailed proposals for the introduction of the quota in relation to the production and sale of wheat in the forthcoming season?
§ Sir J. GILMOURPending the negotiations with the interests concerned which are now in progress, I am not in a position to make a further statement.
§ Mr. HANNONWill the Minister state before the rising of the House the details of the quota, as people are very anxious to see what the details are?
§ Sir J. GILMOURNo, it would not be practicable to do so until the negotiations are complete.
§ Mr. RHYS DAVIESWill the right hon. Gentleman not tell us whether the interests concerned include the master bakers?
§ Sir J. GILMOURYes, all these interests.
Captain CROOKSHANKWill my right hon. Friend consider the introduction of a Resolution for getting the approval of the House to the principle of a quota, in order to facilitate negotiations?
§ 48. Mr. HANNONasked the Prime Minister whether it is the intention of the Government to apply the principle of the quota for wheat to imports of wheat from Canada and Australia; and if he will indicate the process by which such scheme will be brought into operation?
§ The PRIME MINISTERA statement on this subject will be made by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, before the House rises.
§ The PRIME MINISTERNot before the House rises, except on the Adjournment.
§ 58. Lord SCONEasked the President of the Board of Trade what treaties or trade agreements would have to be denounced or revised should the Government decide to restrict or control the importation of oats and oat products?
§ Major COLVILLENo treaties restrict the right of this country to restrict the import of oats from foreign countries by means of customs duties. No control of the imports of oats and oat products under a licence system, however, could be applied, unless similar United Kingdom products were also controlled, so long as the International Convention for the Abolition of Import and Export Prohibitions and Restrictions, or the Anglo-German Treaty of Commerce and Navigation, remain in force in their present form. The Anglo-Persian Tariff Autonomy Treaty, which has not yet been formally ratified though it has provisionally entered into force, also embodies provisions similar to those in the International Convention.
§ Sir W. DAVISONMay I ask what notice is required to terminate the arrangement under the Anglo-German Treaty?
§ Major COLVILLEOne year's.
§ Lord SCONEMay I ask whether it is the intention of the Government to give notice to terminate this Treaty?
§ Major COLVILLEI could not answer that question without notice.
§ 59. Lieut.-Commander AGNEWasked the President of the Board of Trade the names of the country or countries with which Great Britain has treaties in the matter of the marketing of the output of flour from the United Kingdom mills; and if he will state the amount of notice required for the denunciation of those treaties?
§ Major COLVILLENo treaties which limit or affect the right to market flour produced in United Kingdom mills have been concluded by this country.
32. Major BRAITHWAITE(for Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGE) asked the Minister of Agriculture when additional proposals to deal with the condition of arable farming in relation to barley, oats, and pig products will be made; and if he is aware that the proposals put forward at present will not provide a substantial amount of employment for people on the land or enable arable farmers to sell their last year's harvest at a remunerative price?
§ Sir J. GILMOURAs regards the first part of the question, I can add nothing to the answer I gave on the 30th November last to questions by my Noble Friend the Member for Perth (Lord Scone) and others. As regards the latter part, the proposals put forward by the Government are admittedly only an instalment of the measures directed to the restoration of the agricultural industry. As I have already informed the House, other aspects of agricultural policy are receiving close attention with due appreciation of their importance.
Major BRAITHWAITEMay I ask if the Government are aware of the danger of an immediate collapse of the arable industry unless something is done at once?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI think my hon. Friend is slightly exaggerating. I am aware of the urgency of the problem, but not from that extreme point of view.
Major BRAITHWAITEIs it not the case that there are very well informed statistics showing that 75 per cent. of the arable farmers are insolvent?