asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the amount by which the normal import quota of Foreign bacon to Great Britain has been exceeded; and will be give particulars of the same and the value of such excess?
I assume the hon. Member refers to the year 1936. There is no "normal" foreign import quota. The quota allowed to foreign countries is fixed from time to time by reference to estimates of supplies from home and Dominion sources. The statement below
31st December, 1936, or nearest convenient date and the dates of the respective agreements?
The following table shows the total declared value of merchandise imported into and exported from the United Kingdom in trade with the under-mentioned foreign countries during the year 1936, together with the balance of imports or exports.gives the total of the allocations to foreign countries for the year 1936 and shows that there was a deficiency in imports below this total of 51,137 cwts., or about r per cent.:
| Cwts. | |
| Allocation to foreign countries | 5,318,416 |
| Additional quantities allowed to be sent in respect of bacon, etc., re-exported or sold for use as ships' stores | 162,413 |
| 5,480,829 | |
| Gross imports, as shown by Customs returns | 5,429,692 |
| Deficiency | 51,137 |