7. Baldwinasked the Minister of Food the cost of imported fruit, including-tinned, dried and fresh from the dollar area during the months of August, September, and October.
§ Mr. StracheyThe approximate f.o.b. cost of arrivals in the United Kingdom of tinned, dried and fresh fruits from the dollar area during the months of August, September and October was about £1,249,000. As the House knows we have, unfortunately, had to discontinue these purchases.
Mr. BaldwinIs the Minister aware that whilst this imported fruit was coming from the dollar area, the British fruit grower was having difficulty in selling plums for more than a penny a pound, and does he think that this is the way to encourage the Minister of Agriculture to get increased production from fruit growers?
§ Mr. StracheyNo, Sir, I could not disagree more with the hon. Member. We have had to discontinue these purchases, but I much regret that we have had to do so.