§ Sir A. Bossomasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will in future take steps to ensure that the National Farmers' Union are informed of his decisions with regard to the quantity and state of agricultural and horticultural imports before they are announced to the Press.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftThe existing arrangements for keeping the headquarters of the National Farmers' Union informed on these matters are, I understand, regarded as satisfactory by the Union.
§ Sir A. Bossomasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give an assurance that, when considering the import of such items as foreign apples which will be in direct competition with our own farmers' products, he will discuss the matter concerned with the National Farmers' Union whenever possible.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftNo. Quota restrictions are imposed to safeguard our balance of payments and not for protective purposes, and are not, therefore, an appropriate subject for consultation between the Government and the United Kingdom producer interests concerned.