§ 25. Mr. HALL-CAINEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the fact that the quantity of bacon imported into this country during the month of January, 1934, fell to 646,000 cwts. as against 863,000 cwts. in January, 1933, whilst the value of such imports actually increased from £2,150,000 to £2,440,000; and whether he will consider the desirability of effecting a change in the present method of protecting the home bacon industry in order that some part of the additional money being paid for imported bacon may be secured for the benefit of this country?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI am aware of the facts stated in the first part of the question. The quantitative regulation of imports was adopted after mature consideration as the method best calculated to assist the pig producing industry in this country, and I am not prepared to recommend that some other method should now be adopted before the present scheme has had an adequate trial.
§ Mr. RHYS DAVIESMay we take it, therefore, that the right hon. Gentleman accepts the figures contained in the question and does not that mean that the consumer in this country is paying more 168 for bacon than he ought to do in order to fill the pockets of the foreigner?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI am not prepared to accept any figures except those which come from my Department.
§ Mr. DAVIESDoes the right hon. Gentleman deny the figures contained in the question?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI neither deny them nor accept them. I have answered the question.
§ Mr. ISAAC FOOTDid I not understand the right hon. Gentleman to state that he was aware that the facts were as stated in the first part of the question?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANYes, I said that I was aware of the facts in the first part of the question, but the figures occur in the second part.