§ 20. Mr. Crouchasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of bacon, pork, eggs, beef, mutton, and lamb, respectively, were home-produced in 1938 and 1955; from which countries the balance was imported; and what percentage of the total was from each country.
Mr. AmoryAs the Answer contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. CrouchDoes my right hon. Friend anticipate any great increase in Argentine beef supplies during the next two or three years?
Mr. AmoryI should say that if the present policies which the Argentine Government have announced continue we can expect increasing quantities, particularly of chilled beef, from the Argentine.
§ Following is the Answer:
| 1938 | 1955 (provisional) | |||
| Per cent. | Per cent. | |||
| BACON AND HAM: | ||||
| Home production Imports— | 36 | 46 | ||
| Canada | 13 | … | ||
| Denmark | 29 | 40 | ||
| Irish Republic | 5 | … | ||
| Netherlands | 4 | "6 | ||
| Poland | 4 | 7 | ||
| Other Countries | 9 | 1 | ||
| — | 64 | — | 54 | |
| 100 | 100 | |||
| PORK: | ||||
| Home production Imports— | 74 | 91 | ||
| Australia | 6 | … | ||
| New Zealand | 12 | 1 | ||
| Argentine | 5 | … | ||
| Other Countries | 3 | 8 | ||
| — | 26 | — | 9 | |
| 100 | 100 | |||
| EGGS: | ||||
| Home production Imports— | 66 | 91 | ||
| Denmark | 12 | 5 | ||
| Netherlands | 7 | … | ||
| Other Countries | 15 | 4 | ||
| — | 34 | — | 9 | |
| 100 | 100 | |||
| BEEF: | ||||
| Home production Imports— | 47 | 63 | ||
| Australia | 9 | 11 | ||
| New Zealand | 4 | 5 | ||
| Argentine | 31 | 16 | ||
| Irish Republic | 3 | 5 | ||
| Other Countries | 6 | … | ||
| — | 53 | — | 37 | |
| 100 | 100 | |||
| MUTTON AND LAMB: | ||||
| Home production Imports— | 37 | 32 | ||
| Australia | 17 | 10 | ||
| New Zealand | 33 | 47 | ||
| Argentine | 8 | 10 | ||
| Other Countries | 5 | 1 | ||
| — | 63 | — | 68 | |
| 100 | 100 | |||
| NOTES: | ||||
| (i) …means imports amounting to less than 0.5 per cent. of total supplies. | ||||
| (ii) "Other Countries" include all those whose individual imports totalled less than 5 per cent. of total supplies in both years. | ||||
| (iii) Proportions relate to weights, except for eggs where they refer to numbers of eggs. | ||||
| (iv) Mutton and lamb cannot be separately distinguished in 1938. |
§ 21. Mr. Crouchasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of apples, pears, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, peas, broad, French, or dwarf beans, carrots, and potatoes, respectively, were home-produced in 1938 and 1955; from which countries the balance was imported; and what percentage of the total was from each country.
Mr. AmoryI am having these figures extracted and will circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT as soon as possible.
§ Mr. CrouchI appreciate that, but will my right hon. Friend assure the House that he will use his watchful eye to see that none of these commodities is imported just at a time when the English product is coming to its peak?