§ Sir J. HASLAMasked the Minister of Agriculture if, seeing that while Denmark carried out her agreement under the bacon import quota system during the month of January last by reducing her exports to this country by about 150,000 cwts., the combined quota was exceeded by 63,302 cwts., he will give the House a list of the countries which infringed the quota agreement during the month of January last, stating the individual amount by which each country exceeded its quota; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent a recurrence of such infringements in the future?
§ Major ELLIOT:I would remind my hon. Friend that the arrangements under which the chief bacon exporting countries have reduced their exports of bacon and hams to this country since 23rd November last are purely voluntary. Moreover, it was agreed that the countries concerned should be free to make minor adjustments in shipments as between one month and another. The arrangements are continuing, but a statement is attached explaining the position and showing anticipated shipments and actual imports during the full initial period of three months from 23rd November. I am satisfied that the countries concerned have endeavoured to limit their shipments to the quantities arranged in the course of the negotiations, and I should like to take this opportunity of publicly expressing, on behalf of His Majesty's Government, our appreciation of their helpful co-operation.
2151WFollowing is the statement:
Imports of bacon and ham in the month of January from those countries which are parties to the voluntary agreement to restrict their imports, amounted to 873,387 cwt. They thus exceeded the total monthly figure of 817,680 cwt. agreed upon by 55,707 cwt. It should be borne in mind, however, that the periods to which the agreed maximum monthly import figures apply run from the 23rd of one month to the 22nd of the next and that there is no undertaking to spread deliveries evenly over the period. Imports may be below the agreed rate in one week and above it in others, provided the maximum is not exceeded over the whole period. This actually occurred in the period 23rd December to 22nd January. Imports in the week ending 27th December were very low and in the following week-part of which fell in
Country. Anticipated shipments during period 23rd November, 1932, to 22nd February, 1933. Actual gross imports during 13 weeks ended 21st February, 1933.† Excess or deficit of gross imports compared with anticipated shipments. cwt. cwt. cwt. Argentine* … … … … 18,240 23,355 + 5,115 Denmark … … … … 1,518,000 1,484,722 -33,278 Estonia … … … … 21,600 19,951 - 1,649 Finland … … … … 13,200 9,917 -3,283 Latvia … … … … 12,000 11,273 -727 Lithuania … … … … 135,000 134,151 -849 Netherlands … … … … 247,200 267,985 +20,785 Poland … … … … 240,000 247,305 + 7,305 Sweden … … … … 115,800 67,346 -48,454 U.S.A. … … … … 120,000 116,380 -3,620 U. S. S.R … … … … 12,000 9,026 -2,974 Total … … … 2,453,040 2,391,411 * It was understood that special circumstanes would prevent the Argentine from limiting shipments to the negotiated quantity during the initial period †The figures in this column make no allowance for small quantities of bacon re-exported.