§ 34. Brigadier - General CLIFTON BROWNasked the President of the Board of Trade what is the money value of frozen liquid milk and cream imported into this country during each of the last three months for which information is available, and from what countries has it come?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI regret that the desired information is not available as the imports of frozen milk and cream are not separately recorded in the trade returns of the United Kingdom.
Brigadier-General BROWNIs it not a fact that frozen milk is being imported into this country for the first time, and, in view of the low price and the plentiful supply of milk in this country, will the right hon. Gentleman do his best to discourage its importation?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI believe that frozen milk is coming into this country, but that is a matter with which I cannot deal by way of question and answer.
§ Mr. SMITHERSWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the terribly low price farmers are getting for their milk?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANCertainly.
85. Brigadier-General BROWNasked the President of the Board of Trade what is the money value of butter imported into this country from sources outside the Empire during each of the last three months for which information is available; and from what countries has it come?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe total declared value of butter imported into the United Kingdom and registered during August, September and October, 1931, as consigned from countries other than British amounted to £2,204,500, £2,132,200 and £2,299,700 respectively. The principal countries were Denmark, the Soviet Union, Estonia, Sweden and Finland.
Brigadier-General BROWNIn view of the great increase in the imports of butter and the very adverse trade balance, owing to food products coming in, will the right hon. Gentleman take some steps to look into this matter, with a view to stopping the imports of those products which interfere with our trade balance?
§ Mr. HARRISIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that a great part of the population cannot afford to buy butter and have to take substitutes, like margarine?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI am prepared to confer with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture on this subject.
36. Brigadier-General BROWNasked the President of the Board of Trade what is the money value of tinned skimmed milk and milk powders imported into this country during each of the last three months for which information is available; and from what countries has it come?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe total declared value of the imports into the United Kingdom of sweetened condensed milk separated or skimmed during August, September and October, 1981, amounted to £225,500, £225,500 and £231,900 respectively, the principal countries of consignment being the Netherlands and Denmark. The value of the imports of milk powders during these months was £28,000, £33,800 and £54,000 respectively, the principal countries being the Netherlands, United States, New Zealand and Canada. Similar information in respect of unsweetened condensed milk separated or skimmed is not available.
Brigadier-General BROWNWill the right hon. Gentleman consider putting a very small duty on these imports of pro-duels which we can produce in this country, and which would give much employment here?
§ Mr. BUCHANANCan the right hon. Gentleman state any reason for the increase in the third month as compared with the first?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANNo, I do not: think there is much increase.
§ Mr. BUCHANANIn the last answer there is a big increase in the third month.
§ Mr. RUNCIMANIf my arithmetic is correct, it is £26,000 on the month, which is not very much.
§ Mr. KIRKW00DDoes it not strike the Minister that what is wrong is that folk have not money to buy decent milk and that they have to buy inferior milk?