§ 24. Mr. HANNONasked the Minister of Agriculture if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the index number of the retained imports of feeding stuffs for animals, on the basis that the quarterly average in 1930 was equal to 100, amounted during the first quarter of this year to 165.7 as compared with 126.2 in the same period of 1933; and, in view of this increase, what is the policy of the Government for dealing with this competition with Home-produced feeding stuffs?
§ Mr. ELLIOTThe reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. In reply to the second part, I would remind my hon. Friend that the statutory procedure in these matters provides for consideration in the first instance by the Import Duties Advisory Committee.
§ Mr. HANNONWhile congratulating my right hon. Friend on his reappearance in the House, may I ask him whether the interests of feeding stuffs manufacturers is constantly kept under review by his Department?
§ Mr. ELLIOTI think, in spite of my absence from the House, I can assure my hon. Friend that the interests of these and other producers are kept constantly under review by my Department.
§ Sir ERNEST SHEPPERSONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the increase of animal feeding stuffs coming into this country is due to the success of the Pig Marketing Scheme, and is it not in the interests of British agriculture that there should be an increase of animal feeding stuffs coming into the country?
§ Mr. ELLIOTYes, I think it would be proper to say that the increase in the consumption of animal feeding stuffs coming into this country is not to be deprecated.