§ 29. Mr. HERBERT WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Agriculture by what percentage the imports of live cattle from the Irish Free State have declined in the first five months of 1933 compared with the corresponding period of 1932; and by what percentage the total imports of beef have declined in the same period?
§ The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Major Elliot)The decline in imports of live cattle for food from the Irish Free State in the period referred to is about 13 per cent. The corresponding figure for imports of chilled beef is about 9¾ per cent., and for chilled and frozen beef about 2¼ per cent. I must apologise to my hon. Friend for my answer in a contrary sense to his supplementary question on Monday last.
§ Mr. MAXTONIn view of those figures, which are a matter of satisfaction, I have no doubt, to the right hon. and gallant Gentleman's Department, but are objectionable to the Minister for the Dominions, who is endeavouring to collect money from the Irish Free State, can some arrangement be come to between the two Ministers, so that these two aspects of Government policy will not be in conflict?
§ Major ELLIOTIf my hon. Friend will examine the figures month by month, he will see that for January and February there was a decrease and in March, April and May, an increase, so that both of us have been met in this matter.
§ Mr. CHARLES WILLIAMSCan my right hon. and gallant Friend give us the figures of the cattle which were imported for fattening as apart from the cattle directly killed for food?
§ Major ELLIOTNo. The returns the cattle imported for food in one category.