§ 52. Mr. LENNOX-BOYDasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the Import Duties Board does in fact take into consideration the advisability of recommending a duty on any horticultural product (as for instance onions) which is not at the present time produced in the United Kingdom in quantities which are substantial in relation to United Kingdom consumption, but the production of which is in the United Kingdom capable of considerable expansion?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAThe functions of the Committee are laid down in Section 3 of the Import Duties Act, and extend to articles of a kind which, in their opinion, are likely within a reasonable time to be produced in the United Kingdom in quantities which are substantial in relation to United Kingdom consumption.
§ Mr. GLOSSOPDoes not the hon. Gentleman consider that the increased consumption of British onions would raise people up physically even if it lowered them socially?
25. Mr. GURNEY BRAITHWAITE (for Mr. LOUIS SMITH)asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give an undertaking that in the trade negotiations with the Dutch. Government no concessions will be given with regard to the importation of Dutch horticultural produce into this country which will in any way affect adversely the recent improvement in the horticultural industry in Great Britain?
§ Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLEI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to a similar question asked by the hon. Member for Penryn and Falmouth (Mr. Petherick) on 3rd May.