Duchess of ATHOLLasked the President of the Board of Trade what imports of meat are subject to statutory regulation; whether such regulations are in fact in force; if so, since what date and in regard to what classes of meat; and what has been the effect of such regulation?
§ Dr. BURGINThe importation of frozen mutton, frozen lamb, frozen beef (carcases and boned beef) and chilled beef from foreign countries has been regulated by statutory Order since 1st January, 1933. So far as frozen meat is concerned, the effect of the regulation has been a progressive reduction in imports, in accordance with the Ottawa Agreements, up to 35 per cent. of the quantity imported in the basic period of 12 months ended 30th June, 1932. Voluntary arrangements have been made for the reduction of imports of foreign chilled beef below the quantity provided for in the Ottawa Agreements. The importation of cattle from the Irish Free State has been regulated by statutory Order since 1st January, 1934, and the importation of beef and veal and edible beef and veal offals from that source has been prohibited by the same Order since that date. The effect of the regulation has been to reduce imports of fat cattle from the Irish Free State in 1934 by some 50 per cent. as compared with 1933, and to keep imports of the other regulated classes of cattle within the quantity im1466W ported in 1933. Under the arrangement relating to coal and cattle provision has been made for some increase in the quantities of cattle to be admitted from the Irish Free State this year. Imports of foreign bacon, including hams and certain other kinds of cured pig meat, have been regulated by statutory Order since 1st December, 1933, with the object of maintaining total supplies on the home market at the level recommended by the, Reorganisation Commission for Pigs and Pig Products. All the Orders referred to are still in force.
Duchess of ATHOLLasked the President of the Board of Trade what voluntary agreements for the limitation of meat are in operation, and with what countries they have been concluded?
§ Dr. BURGINVoluntary arrangements are in operation for the limitation of imports of chilled beef, frozen beef offals, canned beef and frozen pork from foreign countries. These arrangements have been made with the importers. The arrangements in regard to pork will shortly be placed on a statutory basis, and an Order for that purpose will be laid before this House at an early date. A valuable measure of co-operation in the arrangements for the regulation of meat supplies has been secured from Empire countries.
Duchess of ATHOLLasked the President of the Board of Trade with what countries there are at present voluntary agreements in force for the limitation of eggs and poultry, and what is the nature of those agreements?
§ Dr. BURGINThere are no voluntary agreements in regard to poultry. The Governments of exporting countries have been invited to regulate their exports to the United Kingdom of eggs in shell during the current quarter in such a manner as to effect a ten per cent. reduction in the total imports from foreign countries as compared with the corresponding quarter of 1934.