§ 7. Mr. T. Williamsasked the Minister of Agriculture what assistance is being afforded to fruit-growers to pick, market and store their excessive supply of fruits, in view of the fact that the normal channels are wholly incapable of dealing with it?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithI am taking, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, such steps as seem practicable to increase apple storage facilities for growers who may be unable to provide such facilities for themselves, and I hope also that it may be possible to come to some arrangements for the preservation by pulping or canning of larger quantities of apples. At the same time I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend on 28th September to questions put by the hon. Members for Moseley (Sir P. Hannon) and Greenock(Mr. R. Gibson).
§ Mr. WilliamsWill the right hon. Gentleman consult with the Minister of Information and Propaganda seeing that there are so many thousands of tons of soft fruit in the southern counties which 1659 cannot be picked largely because the women who would otherwise have picked them are engaged on evacuation work?
§ Commander Locker-LampsonCould not we start more cider factories?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithThey are working to capacity at the moment.
§ 16. Mr. T. Williamsasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster why a supply of sugar has been refused to the David Ede School, a refugee agricultural training centre, seeing that there is plenty of labour and an abundance of fruit which is going to waste?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonAdditional supplies of sugar have been provided for preserving fruit. I have asked the area officer concerned to look into the matter referred to, and as soon as I receive his report I will communicate with the hon. Member.
§ Mr. WilliamsWhile thanking the right hon. Gentleman for his reply, in view of the fact that there is a great supply of labour in that place and plenty of fruit going to waste, will he expedite the matter?
§ Mr. MorrisonYes, Sir.