§ 32. Sir W. DAVISONasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of recent instructions on the part of the Russian Soviet Government giving quotations for the marketing of Soviet butter in Great Britain at 20 per cent. below the ruling prices in this country at date of delivery; and what steps are being taken to protect the British dairying industry in this matter?
§ Dr. ADDISONI have no information about the alleged instructions referred to in the first part of the hon. Member's question.
§ Sir W. DAVISONAssuming the statement regarding these instructions to be correct, will the right hon. Gentleman make inquiries, so that our dairy industry may not be subject to competition of this kind?
§ Dr. ADDISONI am not prepared to assume anything of the kind. I can inform the hon. Gentleman that the imports this year are appreciably less than last year's, and that last year's were less than half what was imported in 1927.
§ Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEIs the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that the Russian butter imported into this country is not injurious to health?
§ Commander BELLAIRSWill the right hon. Gentleman at least remonstrate with those companies which are advancing £530,000 to Russia for the import of butter, if I send him the names of the companies?