HC Deb 18 April 1939 vol 346 cc149-50
15. Mr. Snadden

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the percentage reductions in supplies of Dominion and foreign mutton and lamb announced on 16th February last were intended to apply to the respective quotas or to the actual totals of these imports in the preceding year; and whether, in deciding upon these percent ages, he had taken account of the large increase in mutton and lamb imports between1936 and 1938?

Mr. Stanley

The percentage reductions apply in the case of the Dominions to the actual imports in the last 12-monthly period, and in the case of foreign countries to the basic quota requirements in the current year.

Mr. Snadden

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is satisfied that these reductions which represent less than one-half of the increase on imports in the past two years are sufficient to influence the course of prices of home-killed mutton and lamb?

Mr. Stanley

The figure was arrived at after consideration of the probable absorption of mutton and lamb in the United Kingdom during the course of that year.

Mr. T. Williams

Before these reductions were decided upon, was the Food Defence Minister consulted?

Mr. Stanley

I was the Food Defence Minister at the time.

Mr. Paling

Can the Minister give an assurance that the reduction in supplies will not affect the ability of working-class people to get reasonably cheap mutton and lamb?

Mr. T. Williams

If the right hon. Gentleman was Food Defence Minister at the time the reductions were decided upon, had he in mind recent events in Europe; and, if so, is he satisfied that the supplies available will be sufficient for an emergency?

Mr. Stanley

What I had in mind was the great value, from the point of view of food supplies in an emergency, of the existence of numbers and prosperity in the sheep industry in this country and the fact that the best reserve of mutton and lamb would be in the British field rather than in the foreign refrigerator.

Mr. John Morgan

Was this reduction effected with the consent of the Dominions concerned?

Mr. Stanley

With their acquiescence.