§ 47. Mr. HALL-CAINEasked the Prime Minister whether the working of quotas has been under investigation by the Government; and whether it is anticipated that there will be any change of policy in this connection in the near future?
§ 46. Major CARVERasked the Prime Minister whether the possibility is under consideration of abandoning all existing quota schemes for controlling the import of agricultural produce into this country and substituting other methods, in view of the abuse of these quotas; and, if so, by whom such examination is being carried out and by what date it is anticipated that the change will be made?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Ramsay MacDonald)As the Lord President of the Council informed the hon. Member for South Shields (Mr. H. Johnstone) on the 28th February, the Government have often stated that in their view 184 quantitative regulation of imports is not necessarily in all cases, and, I may add, for all time, the most appropriate method of assisting the home agricultural industry. The circumstances of each case are different, and it would not be possible to lay down a general rule. A wide variety of methods have, in fact, been adopted to meet the differing requirements of the industry under widely variable conditions. The Government have the situation under constant review and if, at any time, it appears to them, in any particular case, that the desired object can be better achieved by some other method, they are always prepared to make such changes as may be necessary as soon as it is practicable to do so.