§ 20. Sir HARRY BRITTAINasked the Minister of Agriculture whether his Department is preparing or undertaking any specific schemes, and, if so, of what nature, for the purpose of promoting the sale in this country of home-grown and Dominion fruits?
§ The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Guinness)In connection with the investigations now being undertaken into marketing problems by the Ministry, a report is in preparation dealing with the marketing of home-grown fruit. It is hoped in this report to draw attention to measures which would seem likely to promote the sale of fruit, and in this connection the relation between homegrown and Dominion fruit will be fully borne in mind. Until this Report is issued and the suggestions made have been considered both by the representative producers' organisations and by my Department, I am unable to make any definite statement on the subject. I may add, however, that technical assistance is already being given by my Department to the Imperial Fruit Show and the National Fruit Canning Council, whose objects are to secure an increased 792 consumption of home-grown and Dominion fruit. In addition, the educational work of the Ministry has for some time been directed along lines calculated to attain the object which my hon. Friend has in mind.
Commander WILLIAMSWill the right hon. Gentleman urge with greater force the necessity for grading of home-grown fruit?
§ Mr. GUINNESSI quite appreciate that necessity, and it is being pressed.
§ Mr. A. V. ALEXANDERDoes the right hon. Gentleman propose to arrange for evidence to be submitted on behalf of the organised consumers?