§ Mr. BOOTHBYasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he can now state what action he proposes to take to deal with the present crisis in Scottish agriculture, particularly with regard to livestock and oats?
§ Sir G. COLLINSWith regard to livestock, I would remind my hon. Friend that the Government have taken steps, with a view to raising the level of wholesale prices, to arrange for the voluntary restriction of imports of meat into this country. The position was set out in some detail in the reply given on 23rd March by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture to a question by the Noble Lord the Member for Newark (Marquess of Titchfield), of which I am sending him a copy. A reorganisation commission is now engaged in drawing up a scheme for regulating the marketing of fat cattle and sheep in Scotland. With regard to oats, the application of the National Farmers' Union for increased duties upon oats and oat products is before the Import Duties Advisory Committee, and, in the circumstances, as I have already stated on more than one occasion, I cannot at present say any more on that subject.