asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state (a) the number of licences authorising the importation without payment of the duty on milk and cream under Section 6 of the Finance (Customs Duties) (No. 2) Act, 1932, which have been issued since the 1st April last to the latest available date; (b) the quantity of the article or commodity permitted to be imported under such licences; and (c) the number, if any, of applications for such licences which have been refused and the reason for refusal in each case.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Importation of Milk and Cream.
(a) Under the provision referred to in the question licences were issued to ten Border creamery concerns having cream separating stations in Northern Ireland, or customarily receiving part of their milk supplies from dairy farmers in Northern Ireland.
(b) When under the Customs Duties (Milk and Cream) (Provisional Importation) Order, 1932, Customs duty first became payable on milk and cream, the required licences were issued to those concerns without restriction of quantity. Subsequently, after the passing of the Finance (Customs Duties) (No. 2) Act, in which the provisions of that Order were incorporated it was found advisable to limit the quantity in each case to the amount of milk and cream normally imported, and licences were accordingly issued authorising, during the six months ending 31st December, the import of 367,539 gallons of milk, and 31,490 gallons of cream.
(c) No application was refused.
Has there been any case of a trader in a particular town being refused a licence and another trader being granted a licence?
I should like to have notice of that question, but I think I could say that no trader got a licence in a town.