55. Lieut.-Colonel LAMBERT WARDasked the Minister of Agriculture the number of instances in which disease has been found in imported cherries this year?
§ Major Sir HARRY BARNSTON (Controller of the Household)I have been asked to reply. I presume that my hon. and gallant Friend is referring to the presence of the larvæ of the cherry fruit fly in consignments of imported cherries. Eighty-five cases of infestation have been found so far this season, as the result of the examination of 192 samples taken by the Ministry's inspectors.
Lieut.-Colonel WARDWill the hon. Member represent to the Minister that, as so few cases have been discovered, it is scarcely necessary to prohibit entirely the importation of French cherries, because doing so causes very considerable hardship to importers and also tends to restrict trade generally?
§ Sir H. BARNSTONI will certainly represent that to the Minister, but I may say that in some cases infestation amounts to 80 per cent.
§ 36. Mr. LUMLEYasked the Minister of Agriculture what progress has been made in the consultations with the French authorities about the importation of French cherries
§ Sir H. BARNSTONThe French Government have been informed that full consideration will be given to any arrangements which they may be able to suggest with the object of preventing the exportation to this country of infested cherries in future seasons. No further progress can be made until details of any suggested no new arrangements have been received.