§ Captain P. MACDONALDasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has any information to show that any country which has adopted a wheat quota system has since abandoned it, which of the countries operating the quota has a guaranteed price, and what that price is in each case?
§ Dr. ADDISONI have no information to show that any country which has in recent years adopted a wheat quota system has since abandoned it. These systems have, as stated in my answer to the hon. Member on the 24th ultimo, been in operation for a comparatively short time. I understand that in Sweden the majority of the commercial mills have undertaken to purchase native wheat at a price equivalent to 42s. per 480 lbs. in September rising to 47s. in May. In Switzerland, the State Grain Office is under an obligation to pay a price equivalent to approximately 71s. per 480 lbs. for native wheat used in milling this season. In Norway a premium is paid on home-grown wheat equivalent to approximately 9s. 6d. per 480 lbs. in excess of the average price of imported wheat. These appear to be the only countries in which definite price arrangements are associated with the wheat quota system.