§ 22. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether any fresh agreement has been reached with New Zealand and Australia as the result of the recent meeting of the Empire Meat Council respecting a reduction of quota; and what assistance he is rendering to the Government of New Zealand to enable it to supply the British market with meat without an increase of the retail price to the consumer?
§ The Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs (Sir Thomas Inskip)I understand that the Empire Meat Council, who are considering the question of imports of mutton and lamb into the United Kingdom for the current year, are holding a 728 further meeting to-morrow. In the meantime I am not in a position to make a further statement on the matter. As regards the last part of the question, I have no reason to suppose that the Council will not take the interests of the consumer fully into account in any conclusions which they may reach.
§ Mr. SorensenIs the Minister aware that the Government of New Zealand is displaying considerable reluctance to accept any reduction in the quota, and is it not also true that frequently the reduction of imports increases out of all proportion to the reduction in home production?
§ Sir T. InskipThe second part of the hon. Member's question is a matter of argument. As to the first part, as I have said in my reply, the New Zealand Government have made representations in connection with the reduction of mutton and lamb imports, naturally against any such proposal.
§ Mr. SorensenIs the Minister aware that his reference to a matter of opinion cannot be accurate, seeing that Argentine meat rose by one penny per pound while home-grown meat was reduced by one farthing per pound?