§ 72. Lord FERMOYasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has caused investigations to be made into the circumstances leading to the unremunerative prices of soft fruits which obtained during the greater part of last season to the detriment of British growers; and whether he intends to take any action to prevent a recurrence in future of the dumping which led to these prices?
§ Dr. ADDISONAs I stated in a, reply which I gave the Noble Lord on the 31st July last, the unremunerative prices received by growers of soft fruit in this country last summer cannot, for the most part, be ascribed to foreign importations. The chief reasons were good home crops and a slow demand. I am considering any practical possibilities of help, and I hope the Noble Lord will give friendly consideration in this respect to the proposals for improved marketing that I hope to introduce shortly.
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYIs it not the case that the foreign growers can send in their fruit always a fortnight ahead of British growers, that they get the pick of the markets, and that our growers get a lower price afterwards?
§ Dr. ADDISONI cannot help the weather. There are other things that 199 affect the question and that I hope to be able to do, and proposals to that effect will be made.
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYWill the right hon. Gentleman be able to take steps to regulate the import of the early fruits?
§ Dr. ADDISONI do not recollect that there was any action of that kind taken between 1924 and 1929.
§ Commander BELLAIRSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that a great drop in prices followed the importation of fruit pulp from Russia?
§ Dr. ADDISONIf the hon. and gallant Gentleman will put on the Paper a question asking for details of importation, I shall be glad to furnish him with a detailed reply.
§ Sir JOSEPH LAMBDoes the right hon. Gentleman not realise that it is not the weather which requires assistance, but the farmer?