§ 5. Captain Heilgersasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is taking steps to revive the voluntary quota on egg imports from foreign countries which operated until the early months of 1936?
§ Mr. RuncimanNo, Sir. The earlier requests to foreign countries to control their shipments were designed to regulate total supplies coming on to the market during the period that the Reorganisation Commissions on eggs and poultry were sitting.
§ Captain HeilgersAs apparently a voluntary quota is the only available method of assisting this hard-pressed industry at present, will my right hon. Friend, if he rejects it, take steps to hasten the termination of those trade agreements that are hampering any further assistance?
§ Mr. RuncimanI shall be glad to consider the point in the light of what my hon. and gallant Friend has said.
§ Mr. TurtonIs my right hon. Friend aware that the imports of eggs have increased from 18,000,000 to 24,000,000, causing havoc in the home poultry industry?
§ Captain MacnamaraIs my right hon. Friend aware that the distress among those in the poultry industry in this country is very acute, and will he seriously look into it to see what can be done immediately?
§ Lieut.-Colonel Acland-TroyteIs my right hon. Friend aware that poultry farmers are mostly small men who cannot afford these heavy losses?