HC Deb 18 March 1947 vol 435 cc192-5
51. Mr. Beswick

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the foreign currencies and the amount in each denomination made available to the Ministry of Food for the purchase of luxury fruits such as pineapples, grapes and peaches; and if he will refuse to make foreign exchange available for these purposes in future.

Mr. Dalton

I will, with permission, circulate details in the OFFICIAL REPORT. The answer to the second part of the Question is "No, Sir."

LANDED VALUE OF IMPORTS OF CERTAIN FRUITS IN 1946.
In £.
Country of Origin. Mandarins and Tangerines. Grapes. Apricots. Peaches and Nectarines. Melons. Pineapples. Strawberries. Medlars. Sloes. Persimmons.
Italy 1,148,030 2,442,452 — 1,700,276 54,250 — — 2,145 105 145,747
France 81,700 241,212 82,337 868,814 31,782 — 3,910 — — 4,829
Holland 1,940 1,736,817 226 44,452 372,604 222 29,887 — — —
French Morocco 428,760 5,000 — — — — — — — —
Spain 605,477 127,526 — — 150,316 77 — — — —
Algeria 108,624 760 31 23 — — — — — —
U.S.A. 9,083 83,043 — — — — 28 — — —
Tunisia 7,518 106 — — 51 — — — — —
Greece 7,800 407,940 — — — — — — — —
Belgium 4,499 509,008 198 17,885 2,071 — — — — —
Channel Isles — 242,006 — 296 8,113 — 110 — — —
South Africa — 45 590 12,250 — — — — — —
Azores — — — — — 152,156 — — — —
Portugal — — — — — 500 — — — —
Eire — 65 — — — — — — 40 —
Canada — 575 — — — — — — — —
Switzerland — 1 — — 2 — — — — —
Denmark — — — — 86 — — — — —
French Somaliland — — — — 36 — — — — —
TOTAL 2,403,431 5,796,556 83,382 2,643,996 619,311 152,955 33,935 2,145 145 150,576
Mr. Beswick

Will the Chancellor bear in mind the deplorable psychological effect of large expenditures of overseas credit on such luxury items? Will he reconsider his decision?

Mr. Dalton

No, Sir, I will not. As a matter of fact, there is great exaggeration about this matter. Most of this fruit comes from soft currency areas, as will be seen if the hon. Member reads my answer. Nearly all of it comes from soft currency areas, and does not involve dollars, is extremely good for health and morale, and is snapped up very quickly in the shops all over the country.

Mr. Collins

Does the Chancellor accept the implication in the Question that peaches costing 4d. in the shops are luxury fruits, whereas pears costing 6d. are not?

Mr. Dalton

I think the words "luxury fruit" are stupidly used by people.

Mr. Erroll

Is it not a fact that we are exporting machinery and capital goods to these soft countries and only getting soft fruit in return?

Mr. Dalton

It would do the hon. Gentleman good if he consumed some.