HC Deb 17 April 1958 vol 586 cc329-31
13. Mr. Langford-Holt

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the adverse effect that the sale of butter imports at a price lower than obtains in the country of origin is having on home and Commonwealth production, what action he has taken, and will now take, in this matter.

17. Mr. J. Johnson

asked the President of the Board of Trade what applications have been made to him for anti-dumping duties on imports of butter; and whether he will now make a statement upon the action that he is taking in this matter.

18. Mr. Jay

asked the President of the Board of Trade what complaints he has had from the New Zealand Government about alleged dumping of dairy products in the United Kingdom; and what reply he has given to these complaints.

22. Mr. Hurd

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has completed his inquiry into the complaint of New Zealand that foreign butter is being dumped on the United Kingdom market; and what action by way of countervailing duty or otherwise is to be taken.

The Minister of State, Board of Trade (Mr. J. K. Vaughan-Morgan)

The National Farmers' Unions and Milk Marketing Boards of the United Kingdom and the New Zealand Government have applied for anti-dumping or countervailing duties on imports of butter from a number of countries. I would refer to the remarks made by my right hon. Friend in the debate yesterday, but am not in a position to add to the Answer given by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison) on 27th March.

Mr. Langford-Holt

Is the Minister aware that this matter is causing considerable perturbation to a number of people? Will he bear in mind that he, like myself, is pledged to a policy which gives first place to the home producer, second place to the Commonwealth producer and third place to the foreign producer, and that any departure from this policy would have no support either in this House or in the country?

Mr. Vaughan-Morgan

This is a very complex issue. We have given an opportunity to all the countries concerned to make their representations. Those have now been received and are being considered.

Mr. J. Johnson

Whatever emerges from this inquiry into the alleged dumping of butter, will the Minister give an assurance that New Zealand needs some help in this matter? Is it a fact that we are buying butter here at 5d. a lb. less than the New Zealand farmer is getting in his own Dominion?

Mr. Vaughan-Morgan

A great deal of evidence will be submitted on the matter. While it is being considered in a quasi-judicial capacity under the Act, it would be best if I added nothing at the present time.

Mr. Jay

As we all want to help a Commonwealth country, if New Zealand wished it would the Government consider a Government contract to purchase this butter at a reasonable price?

Mr. Vaughan-Morgan

That raises an entirely different issue.

Mr. Hurd

When my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has all the information and can come to conclusions, will he be good enough to tell the House the grounds on which he reached those conclusions? There appears to many of us to be a terrible tangle of two-tier prices throughout the Continent which is affecting us here by the surpluses being dumped at much lower prices than those charged to domestic consumers. Will he see whether that can be done?

Mr. Vaughan-Morgan

I feel sure that there will be many opportunities for discussion on the matter.

Mr. J. Griffiths

Will the Minister of State and his right hon. Friend bear in mind that on all sides we remember with gratitude how New Zealand stood by us in a very difficult period and that it would be the desire of every hon. Member that the Government should treat New Zealand fairly and generously in this matter?

Mr. Vaughan-Morgan

I am sure that the right hon. Gentleman has read the remarks of my right hon. Friend yesterday on this subject.

Mr. Wade

Can the Minister give an assurance that no agricultural products are exported by this country and sold overseas at prices lower than those obtaining in this country? Further, can he say what efforts are being made to reach agreement with other European countries on the subject of selling goods at prices below the cost of production in the country of origin?

Mr. Vaughan-Morgan

I am not aware of any complaints of dumping against us at the moment.