§ 30. Mr. Peter Millsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will initiate discussions with overseas Governments to include butter oil and similar products within future butter quota arrangements.
§ Mr. HoyThe Government have already been in communication with overseas suppliers of near-butters, and we are continuing to watch the situation closely.
§ Mr. MillsDoes the hon. Gentleman realise the seriousness of the position? This is a back-door method of evading regulations and certainly in the long run will not help the British dairy farmer. Therefore, are not urgent decisions and talks necessary now?
§ Mr. HoyI can assure the hon. Gentleman that we are keeping the position under constant supervision. There is no evidence, I assure him, that increased imports of butter oil during 1966–67 have threatened the stability of the butter market or butter prices.