§ 22. Brigadier Medlicottasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give an assurance that the Government will maintain its powers to limit imports of cereals by the system of quotas; and that these powers will be used to prevent foreign dumping of cereals to the prejudice of the home-grown crops.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftCereals and feedingstuffs may at present be imported freely under open individual licence, and it would not be in accordance with the general policy of Her Majesty's Government in regard to the use of quantitative restriction of imports to modify these arrangements unless this were to become necessary for balance of payments reasons. The Board of Trade's powers to prohibit or regulate the import of goods derive from the Import, Export and Customs (Defence) Act, 1939.
§ Brigadier MedlicottIs the Minister aware that I am disappointed that I did not receive an assurance from him in reply to my previous supplementary asking for first place in the home market for the home producer? Is he further aware that the position is equally serious with regard to cereals, and that, in East Anglia in particular, farmers have had the greatest difficulty in disposing of their barley this autumn because of the untimely arrival of large quantities from overseas?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftThe Government have already indicated, in their recent White Paper, the importance they attach to a stable and efficient agricultural industry, and have made provisions for deficiency payments in respect of cereals.
§ Mr. GaitskellWill not the President reassure his Liberal colleague that he fully understands the great dangers to British agriculture of this free import policy?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftI am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for his very helpful intervention.