HC Deb 12 December 1949 vol 470 cc2349-50
44. Professor Savory

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that there are in South Antrim and in County Armagh orchards lying thick with apples, including tons of Bramleys, for which there is no market owing to foreign competition, and that there are also eating pears, superior to any obtained abroad, which are rotting in the orchards owing to the quantities coming in from Italy and the Netherlands; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent the Northern Ireland fruit grower from being completely deprived of his market owing to foreign competition.

Dr. Summerskill

The apple crop in Northern Ireland is almost entirely composed of cookers and I cannot agree that their marketing has suffered in any way from the distribution last October of about half a pound per head of imported eating apples. And as for pears, under one-tenth of a pound per head are grown in Northern Ireland, and it is only those of poor, quality that have failed to find a market.

Professor Savory

May I ask the right hon. Lady whether, before importing these foreign apples and pears, she consulted the Minister of Agriculture for Northern Ireland, who would have given her very accurate information?

Dr. Summerskill

If the hon. Gentleman consults that Department, he will find that they agree with everything I have said. Surely the hon. Gentleman would not deny his constituents half a pound of eating apples?

Professor Savory

As this country is so delighted to receive millions of our eggs, as the Home Secretary stated on 1st December, will not the right hon. Lady give kind consideration to our apples and pears?

58. Sir W. Smithers

asked the Minister of Food if he has considered the particulars which have been sent to him concerning the difficulties being experienced by a market gardener in Kent in marketing his fruit crop; and what action does he propose to take.

Dr. Summerskill

This complaint is similar to the one in the hon. Member's Question of 31st October and I must refer him to the reply which I gave him on that occasion.

Sir W. Smithers

I cannot let the right hon. Lady get away with it like that. Is not she aware that Government interference, by bulk purchase and State control in the markets, is creating enormous losses to growers and farmers, and enormous losses to the public, and keeping food short—I believe on purpose?

Dr. Summerskill

I think the hon. Member is becoming repetitive.

Sir W. Smithers

On a point of Order. Why should I be accused of having the hiccups?