Major McLEANasked the President of the Board of Trade what, under the arrangements made at Ottawa, is the estimated increase (in cwts.) of the importation from Empire sources of frozen mutton and lamb, frozen beef, and frozen veal for the year 1933 and for the first six months of 1934, as compared with the standard year 1931–32?
§ Dr. BURGINThe Australian and New Zealand Governments have agreed that the exports from those Dominions of frozen mutton and lamb to the United Kingdom during the calendar year 1933 shall not exceed the exports during the year ended 30th June, 1932. The maximum increase of 10 per cent. contemplated under the Agreements in the case of frozen beef would give an additional quantity of about 105,000 cwts. from Australia in 1933, and of about 40,000 cwts. from New Zealand in the season October, 1932—September, 1933. The corresponding figures for veal would be 1169W 565 cwts. from Australia and about 10,000 cwts. from New Zealand. The agreed limitation of exports from the Dominions does not extend into 1934.
§ Mr. TURTONasked the President of the Board. of Trade whether under the Ottawa Agreements it is open to the British Government to impose a greater restriction on imports of foreign meat than that set forth in the agreed programme without first obtaining the consent of the Dominions, and without enabling the Dominions to vary their agreed regulation of Dominion imports of meat as set forth in the Agreement with the Commonwealth of Australia and in the letter, dated 19th August, addressed by the Right Hon. J. G. Coates, M.P., to the Lord President of the Council?
§ Dr. BURGINThe Ottawa Agreements prescribe the maximum quantities of meat which may be imported into the United Kingdom. I do not think that a further reduction would be in any sense a departure from the spirit of these Agreements.