§ 57. Major the Marquess of TITCHFIELDasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is in a position to inform the House of the result of the negotiations with the Dominions and the Argentine on the matter of the further voluntary restrictions of the meat quota?
§ 61. Mr. LAMBERTasked the Minister of Agriculture what action has been taken to enable British producers of meat and dairy products to meet the competition of depreciated currencies favouring Australasian producers?
§ 62. Sir CHARLES CAYZERasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can now make any statement with regard to the progress of the negotiations with the Dominions for the voluntary restriction of butter imports?
§ Major ELLIOTThe position regarding supplies of imported meat in the June quarter will be as follows. In accordance with the Ottawa Agreements, the quantities of frozen mutton and lamb and frozen beef from South America will be 15 per cent. less than those received in the corresponding quarter of last year, compared with a reduction of 10 per cent. in the present quarter. In the case of chilled beef from South America, as the result of negotiations it has been arranged that the quantities imported next quarter will be 5 per cent. above those arranged for the present quarter. These quantities remain at a lower level than that contemplated by the Ottawa Agreements. In regard to frozen mutton and lamb from Australia and New Zealand, the position is as agreed at Ottawa, namely, that supplies of frozen mutton and lamb from these sources in the year 1933 will not exceed the quan- 495 tities shipped in the 12 months ended 30th June, 1932. In regard to bacon, I hope shortly to be able to communicate to the House particulars of voluntary arrangements for a further progressive reduction in foreign imports during the ensuing three months. Discussions are continuing in regard to imported dairy products, but I am not yet in a position to make a statement.
§ Mr. LAMBERTIs my right hon. and gallant Friend taking any special steps to deal with these countries with depreciated currencies?
§ Major ELLIOTI have already stated that we are continuing our discussions in regard to imported dairy products, but I am not in a position to make a statement thereon.
§ Mr. LAMBERTHas my right hon. and gallant Friend taken any special steps to deal with countries with depreciated currencies?
§ Major ELLIOTI am not dealing with it on the basis of depreciated currencies, but on the basis of quantities of products consigned from those countries.
§ Sir JOSEPH LAMBIs my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that depreciated currency is a very great factor in dealing with these countries?