§ 26. Lieut.-Colonel Liptonasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in order to encourage the greatest possible volume of trade within the Commonwealth generally and the purchase of Australian wheat in particular, he will consider the advisability of an import duty on foreign wheat.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftNo, Sir. Even if such a duty were otherwise desirable, we have undertaken to maintain entry 1349 free of duty for foreign wheat. Moreover, our commitments under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade not to create new margins of preference would preclude such action. Imports of wheat from the Commonwealth are, of course, free of duty.
Lieut.-Colonel UptonIs the Minister aware that we are importing as much wheat from the United States of America as we are from Australia, whom we urged to grow more wheat to help us to avoid an adverse dollar balance? Is it not the policy of Her Majesty's Government to see that
…the Empire producer will have a place in the home market second only to the home producer"—"Britain Strong and Free," page 12.
§ Mr. ThorneycroftI am glad to see that the hon. and gallant Member is a student of serious politics. At the same time, he should consider whether this constant pressure to put duties on foreign feedingstuffs is really the way to bring down the cost of living.