52. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the fact that many Worcestershire agriculturists are adversely affected by the recent decision of the Fruit Controller in fixing the price of jam at 6½d. per lb., and that upon that basis the price of plums to the grower is to be from £4 to £5 per ton, which in many cases is less than the cost of production, he will confer with the Minister of Food with a view to getting some alteration made in this price, or, alternatively, whether he will take steps to ease the position by some scheme of voluntary help in picking, in view of the high cost involved in picking at the present time?
Mr. HudsonThe information in the hon. Member's Question is in many respects inaccurate. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Food has consulted me as to the maximum retail prices which it would be proper to fix for the principal varieties of jam. He now proposes to make an order in this regard. The prices have been fixed to enable purchases of fruit to be carried out on a price level which will be reasonably remunerative to growers. That for plum jam has been based on the assumption that the price to be paid for plums would be £8 per ton.
Mr. De la BèreIs my right hon. Friend aware that the price fixed by the Fruit Controller is uneconomic and will involve all plum growers in a loss? Will he take steps to adjust it?
Mr. De la BèreIs the Minister aware that the Press has stated that this is the price which the Fruit Controller has fixed?
Mr. HudsonThat is why I said that the information in the hon. Member's Question was in many respects inaccurate.