HC Deb 17 February 1947 vol 433 cc771-2
10. Mr. Francis Noel-Baker

asked the Minister of Food the amount and nature of British food imports from Spain during the past six months.

Mr. Strachey

The only considerable quantities of foods imported from Spain during the last six months of 1946, were 10,000 tons of apricot pulp, 8,700 tons of oranges, 4,300 tons of other fresh fruit, and 2,200 tons of dried apricots.

Mr. Noel-Baker

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in Spain considerable propaganda is being made by both the extreme Left and the extreme Right, which claims that food imports into Great Britain are one of the reasons for the present shortage of food in Spain?

Mr. Strachey

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for drawing my attention to these statements. I would like to have an opportunity of denying them, if they are being made. My statement has shown that only imports of fruits, of which Spain has an export surplus which she is pleased to sell, are coming to us.

Mr. David Eccles

Are we to have any onions this year?

Mr. Strachey

I think we shall get some.