§ 89. Mr. MORLEYasked the Minister of Agriculture if he will take steps to protect the smallholder and fruit grower from unfair foreign competition and excessive distribution and commission costs by adopting a policy of collecting stations, stabilisation of prices, and municipal markets?
§ Dr. ADDISONThe National Mark scheme, which has already been extended to apples, pears, tomatoes and cucumbers, and will shortly, I hope, be extended to strawberries, cherries and, eventually, to other fruits and to vegetables, aims at securing the standardisation of product, pack and package and thereby of providing a basis for collective marketing where practicable. Proposals for facilitating the organisation for marketing purposes of fruit and vegetable growers are at present under consideration.
§ Mr. MORLEYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the neighbourhood of Southampton last year, strawberry growers were receiving 3d. a pound for best fruit, while fruit of an inferior quality was being retailed at 1s.; similarly, for other fruit and vegetable products, the producers are receiving less than 25 per cent. of the retail price; and will he include fruit and vegetable products under the protection of Import Boards, as well as as arable farming?
§ Mr. BLINDELLSeeing that nine months of this Parliament have expired, can the right hon. Gentleman tell the House that at no distant date the Board of Agriculture will be prepared to convey to us the steps they propose to take for facilitating the marketing of agricultural produce?
§ Dr. ADDISONI hope that it will be possible at no distant date. With reference to the other supplementary question, I am aware of the discrepancy between the producers' and consumers' prices, and it is that matter which we are examining with a view to trying to provide proper organisation in the industry.