asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the situation created by bounty-fed competition, it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to denounce such treaties and conventions as forbid the imposition of countervailing duties in this country; and, if so, when that intention will be implemented?

I have been asked to answer this question. The answer to the first part is in the negative; the second part, therefore, does not arise.

Is it the intention of the Government to allow these conditions to continue permanently?

No. We make whatever representations are possible, but my hon. Friend asks me to do an impossible thing. I should have to denounce almost a score of treaties, with disastrous results to British commerce.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the disastrous results to British agriculture?

Are not these restrictions the result of the legislation passed in the last four years?

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider entering into negotiations, for example, with the German Government on this subject, without necessarily denouncing a treaty, but modifying it?

In one of the previous Debates in the House I indicated that, we had made informal representations at Geneva. That, in fact, has already been done.

What was the result of those representations?

I cannot anticipate the result this afternoon, but, they have promised to give the matter most careful consideration. I am hoping that there will be a result.

asked the Prime Minister when the White Paper on Agricultural Policy will be published; whether the White Paper will state in detail the action which it is proposed to take in response to the recommendations received from the Agricultural Conference; and whether a day will be allocated in the immediate future for a discussion of the condition of agriculture?

asked the Minister of Agriculture when the White Paper on the Government's agricultural policy will be available for Members?

I have been asked to reply. A number of proposals are receiving expert examination, and, when the inquiries are complete, a statement will be made. My right hon. Friend cannot anticipate the form which will be adopted, or the material which it will contain. In reply to the last part of the question by the hon. Member for Stone (Sir J. Lamb), I would refer him to the reply which the Prime Minister gave to a similar question by the hon. Member for Eye (Mr. Granville) on the 3rd March.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any intimation at all when it is probable that we shall have any statement from him or from anyone in the Government with regard to this question? Is he not aware that it is now nearly 12 months since promises were made, and nothing whatever has been done for the industry?

Considering that Question No. 47 deals, among other things, with the business of the House, asking whether a day will be allocated in the immediate future for a discussion of the condition of agriculture, is there any reason why the Prime Minister should not have answered it himself?

Having regard to the urgency of this problem, will the right hon. Gentleman exclude the further delay of any reference to a referendum?

Can we have no date at all from the Government when they are going to make a pronouncement upon policy or give an opportunity for discussion? Agriculture has not been mentioned for 12 months in this House.

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is now in a position to give the House detailed information concerning the Government's agricultural policy?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a similar question on the 3rd April, to which there is at, present nothing to add.

Can the right hon. Gentleman indicate when I may repeat the question so as to get a reply?

I think that that is a question which the hon. Member must decide for himself.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that this matter is vital to the life of a great many people in this country?

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he can give the estimated loss on the potato crop, per acre, for the year 1929–30?

I regret that this information is not available.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that English potatoes are now being dumped into refuse pits as they are unsaleable owing to the importation of foreign potatoes?

No, I am not aware of that fact.

It is so.

Is no information at all available from the Ministry of Agriculture?

We have a great amount of information. The hon. and gallant Member is referring to last year's potatoes and not to this year's potatoes.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the present number of allotments in this country, and their total aggregate as compared with the figures for the last five years?

As the reply consists of a number of figures, I propose, with the permission of the hon. Member, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Agriculture the acreage of small holdings in the country on which cereals were grown in 1929; and whether in any recorded cases in which such cereals have been grown a profit has been made?

I regret that the information desired by the hon. Member is not available.

Is no information available from the Ministry of Agriculture?

asked the Minister of Agriculture what steps are being taken to renew and extend the drink-more-milk campaign; and what evidences are available of the increased consumption of liquid milk as a result of such propaganda?

There is no special milk advertising campaign in progress in this country at the present time, but the National Milk Publicity Council is continuing its work in the formation of milk clubs in the elementary and secondary schools of this country, which it is estimated has increased the consumption of milk by about 4,000,000 gallons a year.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman's Department taking some co-operative action with the Empire Marketing Board to bring about the success of this campaign?

The Empire Marketing Board, at our suggestion, is now spending a considerable sum of money and assisting in this matter.

Are farmers taking part in the campaign?

So far as farmers are disposed to do so, yes.