asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can make any statement regarding the reductions recently imposed in the quotas applicable to various classes of goods imported into the Netherlands from this country?

The Netherlands Government have informed His Majesty's Government that they are anxious to enter into negotiations with regard to the trade between the two countries. In order to facilitate discussions, they have decided to continue for a limited period to allot to goods imported from the United Kingdom, the quotas which were in force before the proposed reductions were enacted. His Majesty's Government are arranging to enter into discussions, the status quo on both sides being maintained in the meantime, in the hope that it will be possible to arrive at a satisfactory arrangement for the future. I anticipate that these discussions will begin at an early date.

During these discussions will the immense increase of bulbs and flowers be considered?

Yes, all relevant considerations will be borne in mind.

Will my hon. and gallant Friend give a guarantee that the Government will not enter into any obligations not to impose adequate duties on skimmed condensed milk, the bulk of which comes from the Netherlands?

The same answer applies to that question as to the first supplementary question.

Do I understand that the agreement in regard to the status quo is an undertaking not to impose a duty on skimmed condensed milk?