§ 59. Sir W. Smithersasked the Minister of Food whether he will make a statement on the present arrangements for marketing onions.
§ Mr. StracheyThe marketing of onions is being carried out by growers and distributors on the lines usually followed on a free market. The retail price has now, I am happy to say, declined to between 3d. and 4d. per lb. This compares with the former controlled price of 4½d. per lb. As the House knows, we have, reluctantly, suspended imports until 14th December.
§ Sir W. SmithersIs not the Minister aware that home-grown onions—and an appeal has been made to people to produce as much food here as possible—are either unsaleable or saleable only at a heavy loss to the grower?
§ Mr. StracheyNo, Sir, I cannot agree with that.
§ Sir W. SmithersI know it.
§ Mr. StracheyWell, I cannot agree. They are saleable at the retail prices I have just quoted.
§ Captain CrookshankCould the right hon. Gentleman say what he meant by "we have, reluctantly, suspended imports," in view of the fact that there is an enormous home production which is not being sold?
§ Mr. StracheyI referred to the fact that I regard the supplies which can be marketed as dependent on the price, in that more will be marketed if the price is reduced.
§ Mr. TiffanyWill my right hon. Friend resist the pressure from the Opposition which seems to indicate that more controls are necessary in this direction?
§ Mr. David RentonIs the Minister aware that the price farmers are receiving, of about £12 a ton, brings in only lid. per lb., whereas these onions are being sold in the market at 4d. and 6d. a lb.? [HON. MEMBERS: "Twopence a lb."] If the Minister doubts the information I am giving him, I am perfectly prepared to establish that after Question time. Will he please look into this question so as to ensure that the grower gets his fair share of the retail price?
§ Mr. StracheyI am sympathetic to the view that the retail price should fall further. It has fallen substantially, and I think it may fall still further.
§ Mr. CobbWill my right hon. Friend note that many of his supporters think that a little bit more competition in this and other ranges of goods will be a good thing?
§ Major Legge-BourkeDoes not the Minister realise that by allowing onions from abroad to come on the home market at a time when there was a large crop of home-produced onions, he has made a large proportion of home-grown onions unsaleable this year? Is he aware that the onions are going bad, and will he do something at once to dispose of the crop?
§ Mr. StracheyWe realised that there was a problem here and reluctantly prohibited imports until 14th December. Certainly, I can do no more.
§ Sir W. SmithersIs the Minister aware that, like the Government, the home-grown onions are going bad?