§ Mr. T. COOKasked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the imports of butter from Denmark increased from 498,639 cwts. in the first three months of 1932 to 594,366 cwts. in the corresponding period of 1934, and that from Sweden the imports increased from 45,526 cwts. to 77,696 cwts.; and what steps he proposes to take to deal with this growing foreign competition with the British milk industry?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GORESupplies of butter to this market from many countries have expanded in recent years, and the expansion has continued during the first quarter of this year. The increase of imports for the first quarter of this year compared with the first quarter of last year is 326,000 cwts. from Empire and 102,000 cwts. from foreign countries. In his statement of 22nd February last my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries explained the steps it is proposed to take, by means of repayable advances from the Exchequer, to meet the situation arising from the increased imports of dairy produce.