44. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in connection with the production of plums in the Pershore area of Worcestershire and adjoining areas, he will take steps to ensure that the price paid for these plums is above the cost of production, having regard to the fact that in previous years the selling price has often been lower than the cost of production?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food (Mr. Boothby)My hon. Friend has no doubt seen an announcement in to-day's Press which indicates certain maximum prices for jams, including plum jam, which will be fixed to enable fruit purchases to be carried out on a price level reasonably remunerative to growers, and I am sending him a copy of that announcement.
Mr. De la BèreIs my hon. Friend aware that it is vitally necessary to ensure economic prices for the grower, and will he confer with the Minister of Agriculture on this particular problem of plums from Pershore? It is very important.
§ Mr. BoothbyI will, of course, confer with my right hon. Friend on this subject.