§ Mr. Maxwell-Hyslopasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what date his Department decided to refuse to answer Questions concerning food imports into the United Kingdom; what the reasons for that decisions were; and why he made no statement to the House concerning it.
§ Mr. John SilkinMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade is responsible for the publication of overseas trade statistics and it has long been normal practice for his Department to answer Questions about statistics on the general value and volume of food imports, if such Questions do not raise other matters within the responsibilities of my Department.