§ 17. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Minister of Food what are his present agreements with the Republic of Ireland for the supply of live cattle, dead meat, vegetables and other agricultural produce to Britain.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeFollowing is the information
The Annex to the Anglo-Irish Trade Agreement of 1948 (Cmd. 7504) governs the supply to the U.K. of live cattle, sheep and lambs and of dead meat; under its provisions, we are entitled to not less than 90 per cent. of the total Irish exports of live cattle. In May, 1951, a supplementary arrangement was made covering live pigs, pigmeat and bacon, under which we are to receive not less than 90 per cent. of the combined total exports of these items by the Irish Republic. A contract has been negotiated recently for the supply of eggs in the period ending February, 1953, and discussions on condensed milk are taking place.There is no agreement about vegetables, which may be freely imported from the Republic.