§ 61. Mr. R. McNEILLasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if he is aware that the Order prohibiting the sale of home-grown fruit except for the purpose of jam-making will cause financial disaster to retail sellers of fruit, who through the cutting off of supplies will not only be unable to make a livelihood but will be unable to meet their liabilities for rent, rates, and other fixed charges; and if he will say what steps the Government propose to take to meet the situation so brought about?
§ Mr. PARKERThe restrictions upon retail sale were inevitable in view of the failure of the fruit crop and the necessity of meeting the needs of the Navy and Army for jam. I have arranged to release picked strawberries for sale on Saturdays, and there are no restrictions except as to price on the disposal on any day, of soft fruit coming from small growers. I am fully aware of the hardships involved, and I appreciate the way in which they are being met by the retail trade and endured by the public.
§ Mr. McNEILLIs my hon. Friend aware that there are cases where traders have special gardens for growing high-class fruit for table use, and that they are now finding that that fruit has been commandeered for the very unsuitable purpose of making jam at a very low price, whereas at the same time retail shops which ought to have been supplied are being left without supplies, and have thus no means of meeting their liabilities?
§ Mr. PARKERI will bring the facts stated to the notice of the Committee, but of course my hon. Friend knows that the "small growers" does take in those who grow not less than a hundredweight, and a hundredweight of strawberries is a pretty large quantity for that type of growing.
§ Sir F. FLANNERYIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the Order in question came as a surprise to the whole of the growers; is he aware that many of the growers stand face to face with ruin in consequence of it; and will he consider the possibility of representing to the Defence of the Realm Losses Commission that some compensation, in proved cases, should be given to the growers who are being ruined by this Order?
§ Mr. PARKERI will bring to the notice of the Committee the points raised by the hon. Gentleman.
§ Mr. ROWLANDSIs the hon. Gentleman aware that in the large strawberry growing areas those who grow strawberries for jam makers are the large growers; that they deliberately grow them without any intention of sending them to market for other purposes, and that the persons who are being punished at the present time are those who grow them for table use and table use alone?