§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that imported barley is being offered for sale below the minimum import price and that this is depressing the market for home-grown cereals; and if he will take steps to enforce import levies.
§ Mr. John MackieI am aware that feeding barley is on offer for import into the United Kingdom at prices below the minimum import price level and that purchases have been made at these prices. In consequence, import levies of 15s. per388W ton were imposed on Canadian barley on 11th March and were increased to 20s. per ton from 13th March. A levy of 15s. per ton on Australian barley has been operative since 12th March. Levies of 5s. per ton on barley from six European countries were imposed on 19th March and were increased to 15s. from 26th March. A general levy of 15s. per ton, applicable to barley from all countries not co-operating in the minimum import prices scheme, was imposed on 11th March and increased to 20s. from 13th March. On the same dates prospective levies of the same amounts were announced for future months of shipment.
The market for home-grown barley has not been undermined; and returns received by my Department show that the average landed price—exclusive of levy—of imported feed barley for all future months of shipment will be above the minimum import price level.