§ 54. Colonel HOWARD-BURYasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that black currant pulp of the 1928 crop is being imported from the Continent in large quantities at 1½d. per pound; and whether, seeing that preservatives are used in this pulp, he can issue an Order to prevent the importation of this deleterious substance?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Miss Lawrence)I have been asked to reply. My right hon. Friend is not aware of the particular importation referred to, but he knows that preserved fruit pulp is imported from the Continent for jam making, and he is not prepared to prohibit it on grounds of public health. Under the Preservatives Regulations, fruit pulp is not allowed to contain any preservative other than sulphur dioxide, and this is almost wholly eliminated in the process of jam making, the maximum proportion allowed in the jam being 40 parts per million.
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYIs the hon. Lady aware that this 1928 fruit pulp is coming in and is being sold by grocers as this season's fruit jam? Is she aware that these foreign importations are 906 killing the home trade, and is it part of her policy to encourage foreign imports at the expense of British growers?