§ 64. Commander Maitlandasked the Minister of Food why fresh sultanas and fresh Greek grapes have been imported into this country when there is a shortage of dried sultanas and raisins.
§ Mr. StracheyNot all varieties of grapes are suitable for drying. But even if all the Greek grapes we import were suitable for drying—which is not the case—the quantity involved would not add appreciably to our dried fruit supplies.
§ Commander MaitlandDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that there is such a shortage of dried fruit in my constituency that people have dried the grapes and sultanas and made most excellent dried sultanas and raisins with them? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that they have had to use fuel to do so, and does he not realise that by importing dried fruit he would be saving sugar?
§ Mr. StracheyWe certainly prefer to import fruit dried and we try to import the greater proportion of it dried, but I do not think we can prohibit the importation of these fresh grapes.
§ Commander MaitlandCould not the right hon. Gentleman increase the importation of dried fruit? Obviously this fruit which was imported might have been dried and imported into this country.
§ Mr. StracheyNo, Sir. The fact is that some varieties of grapes are not suitable for drying.
§ Commander MaitlandThese are good ones.
§ Mr. StracheyNo, I think not.