§ 40. Sir Percy Harrisasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give any explanation as to the exceptional rise in the price of butter; and whether he proposes to take any steps in the matter?
Mr. StanleyI would refer the hon. Member to the answer given yesterday to the hon. Member for Whitehaven (Mr. Anderson).
§ Sir P. HarrisIn order to deal with the recognised shortage, which arises from drought and other causes, in the butter supplies from the Dominions, will the right hon. Gentleman consider trying to encourage more supplies from Denmark and other sources to make up the shortage, which is responsible for the exceptional increase in the price of butter?
Mr. StanleyThe hon. Baronet will realise that Denmark has guaranteed a minimum of exports of butter here, which at the present moment she is not reaching, and one of the difficulties has been the diversion of supplies from Denmark to Germany.
§ Mr. A. V. AlexanderWill the right hon. Gentleman consider taking off the duty on imported butter?
Mr. StanleyThe right hon. Gentleman knows that the duty has been on for five years. It could not be held to account for the rise during the last few weeks.
§ Mr. ThurtleCan the right hon. Gentleman inform the House whether the Government are taking any supplies off the butter market at the present time for the purpose of creating a reserve against a national emergency?
§ Mr. StephenWill the right hon. Gentleman use his influence with the Minister of Labour to increase the allowances to the unemployed, in view of the increased cost of butter: