§ 1. Sir H. Harrisonasked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to restrict the imports of pork and poultry this year to the level of 1964.
§ Sir H. HarrisonIs the Minister aware that I consider that to be a very disappointing reply? Is he further aware that according to his own statistics for the early months of this year the imports of poultry and pork, all of which can be produced in this country, were nearly doubled? There is great concern among producers in East Anglia, and the President of the Board of Trade has already had a letter from Porcofram, Ltd., poultry and pig breeders in my constituency.
§ Mr. DarlingIt is best to get the figures in perspective. Imports of pork into this country amount to about 3 per cent. of home consumption, which is rather insignificant against home production. Although, as the hon. and gallant Gentleman says, imports are somewhat higher than they were a year ago, they are still below the import level of three or four years ago, and at the same time home production of pork has increased by 100,000 tons a year during this period. As for poultry, in spite of the increase in imports which the hon. and gallant Gentleman mentioned, these are still only about 4 per cent. of total consumption. There is no case here for further restrictions.