§ 3. Mr. JAMES STUARTasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has completed his investigation into the question of imported oats, oatmeal and oatmeal products; and, if so, whether he is in a position to make a statement as to the action he proposes to recommend in order to assist the home grower?
§ Sir G. COLLINSThe question of imported oats, oatmeal and other oat products is still under my consideration, and as it affects the United Kingdom its a whole, I am in consultation with the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries 160 as to the steps, if any, that can be taken to assist the home grower.
§ Mr. STUARTIs my right hon. Friend aware that last week oats were being sold in the North of Scotland at a lower price than has ruled for over a century, and does he realise the urgency of the matter? Will my right hon. Friend consider the advisability of prohibiting the importation of foreign oats?
§ Sir G. COLLINSI realise the serious position in the North of Scotland, and I cannot at present say anything except that I appreciate the gravity of the situation.
§ Mr. BOOTHBYWhen will my right hon. Friend be in a position to make an announcement on the question?
§ Sir G. COLLINSI would rather not commit myself as to time.
§ Mr. R. W. SMITHDoes the word "shortly" with regard to oats mean the same as it did with regard to credits schemes for farmers, which have taken months?
§ Sir G. COLLINSAs my hon. Friend knows, that matter is not under the jurisdiction of my office.
§ 24. Mr. BARCLAY-HARVEYasked the President of the Board of Trade if, having in view the low price obtainable for oats grown in this country at the present time, he will take the opportunity of the discussions which are taking place with the Argentine Government to secure a reduction of the quantity of oats imported from that country?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Runciman)I cannot undertake to discuss details of the negotiations while they are in progress, but I can assure my hon. Friend that no relevant considerations are being overlooked.
§ Mr. BARCLAY-HARVEYIs it the right hon. Gentleman's opinion that the question of oats is a relevant consideration.
§ 26. Mr. R. W. SMITHasked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the serious position of the oat producers of this country, he will take steps to prohibit or limit the importation of foreign oats or oat products?
§ 28. Mr. BOOTHBYasked the President of the Board of Trade whether in view of the fact that the average wholesale price of oats in Germany during 1932 was nearly double the wholesale price of oats consigned from Germany and marketed in this country, he will take immediate steps to prohibit or control the importation of oats into this country?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI have no power to prohibit or control the importation of oats into this country. As regards the question of my hon. Friend, the Member for Aberdeen, East (Mr. Boothby), he was informed in answer to a question on 22nd February, that the oats imported in 1932, shown as consigned from Germany, were not of German origin.
§ Mr. SMITHAs the right hon. Gentleman has no power to prohibit foreign oats, will he take steps to obtain such power from this House?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANMy colleague the Minister for Agriculture is more concerned in this than the Board of Trade.
§ Mr. BOOTHBYCan the right hon. Gentleman say what difference it makes to the Scottish farmer whether oats sold at this price in this market were of German origin or not? They broke the market, and why should it make any difference whether they were of German origin or not?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI was asked whether oats were consigned from Germany or not, and I have given the answer.
§ 27. Mr. BOOTHBYasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that the German Government assists the export of oat products and sowing oats to this country, he will take immediate steps to prohibit or control their importation?
§ 29. Mr. BARCLAY-HARVEYasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that certain exported German oat products obtain the benefit of Government assistance, he will take steps to prohibit their import into this country?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANAs has been explained in reply to previous questions on this subject, under the German export bond system the exporter of oat products is given a certificate which entitles him to import an equivalent 162 quantity of oats duty free. The certificate has no value unless imports take place, and the German Government take the view that no subsidy on export is, therefore, involved. In any case I have no power to prohibit or control imports of the commodities in question.
§ Mr. BOOTHBYI beg to give notice that, owing to the very unsatisfactory nature of the replies of the right hon. Gentleman, I will raise this matter on the adjournment at the earliest opportunity.