§ Mr. Rhodesasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the import arrangements for butter for the year beginning 1st April, 1968.
§ Mr. CroslandI have decided to continue the quotas system for imports of butter for a further 12 months beginning on 1st April, 1968.
The total of imports to be authorised initially will be 462,000 tons, including basic quotas of 443,655 tons and supplementary quotas (for import before 30th November, 1968) of 18,345 tons.
Butter continues to be in plentiful supply and prices are steady. We shall keep the situation under review and a reserve of 5,000 tons is available for allocation in the light of circumstances and after consultation with New Zealand and Australia.
Because unusually large imports of butterfat mixtures recently have threatened the objectives of the butter quota scheme, I am today authorising the revocation of the open 52W general licence covering such imports. A global quota of 9,000 tons will be established for imports of near butters and butterfat mixtures during the year beginning 1st April, 1968.
Notices to importers giving details of the butter and near butter/butterfat mixture quotas will be published.