HC Deb 17 February 1947 vol 433 c788
48. Mr. David Renton

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is prepared to introduce guaranteed prices for this year's plum crop.

Mr. T. Williams

No, Sir.

Mr. Renton

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the present uncertainty with regard to prices for plums is causing great concern among fruit growers and, bearing in mind the omission from the Agriculture Bill of horticultural matters, will he consider introducing legislation at an early date?

Mr. Williams

The hon. Member will be aware of the administrative difficulty in determining a price for plums since sometimes it is a very long time before they ripen. There may be a small crop, or there may be a very large crop and, so far, it has been found administratively impracticable to arrange a price.

Mr. Collins

Does not the Minister agree that the suggestion embodied in the Question would be wholly impracticable, and that anyone with any knowledge of the growing of plums knows that it will be impossible to guarantee a minimum price?