§ 56. Colonel HOWARD-BURYasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that two tons of the best homegrown raspberries only fetched 1d. a pound at Covent Garden last week, that the coat of picking is 1½d. a pound, and 2155 that these uneconomic prices are due to the foreign consignments of raspberries that are coming into this country; and whether he will prohibit the import of such foreign raspberries in a similar manner to that of foreign cherries?
§ Mr. CHARLES EDWARDS (Lord of the Treasury)My right hon. Friend is unable to obtain any evidence that any home-grown raspberries were sold last week at Covent Garden Market at as low a price as 1d. per pound. He is also informed that no foreign raspberries were on sale at Covent Garden last week, and that the low level of prices ruling was due to heavy supplies of home-produced fruit. With regard to the last part of the question, there is no reason at present to believe that the importation of raspberries involves any danger to plantations in this country from pests and diseases, and consequently there is no justification for taking action under the Destructive Insects and Pests Acts similar to that taken in the case of cherries.
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYWill the hon. Member accept any evidence that I can give him with regard to the prices which were obtained last week at Covent Garden?
§ Mr. EDWARDSYes.
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYThe Department seems to be ignorant of the facts.
§ Miss WILKINSONWill the hon. Memmer represent to his right hon. Friend the necessity for improved conditions of marketing rather than increasing the price of this fruit, which is so urgently needed by children?
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYIt does not pay the cost of picking.