HC Deb 21 November 1949 vol 470 cc3-5
3. Mr. Heathcoat Amory

asked the Minister of Food why cider and cider apples are at present being imported, in

IMPORTS INTO THE UNITED KINGDOM OF CIDER APPLES IN EACH MONTH JANUARY TO DECEMBER, 1948, AND JANUARY TO SEPTEMBER, 1949
Month 1948 1949
Cwt. £ Cwt. £
January … … … … … … — — 5,754 4,801
February … … … … … … — — — —
March … … … … … … — — — —
April … … … … … … — — — —
May … … … … … … — — 383 320
June … … … … … … — — — —
July … … … … … … — — — —
August … … … … … … — — — —
September … … … … … … — — — —
October … … … … … … 73 61 (not yet available)
November … … … … … … 49,356 42,971 " "
December … … … … … … 80,110 68,941 " "
Notes:
1. Cider apples are not distinguished in the Official Trade returns for 1938. Unofficial estimates suggest that about 500,000 cwt. were imported in that year.
2. Apple pulp is not distinguished in the Official Trade returns for any year so figures of imports cannot be given. No licences to import pulp for cider making were issued in 1948 or 1949.
11. Mr. Lambert

asked the Minister of Food if he will give to the latest con- view of the fact that cider manufacturers are unable to absorb the whole of the home-grown cider apple crop.

The Minister of Food (Mr. Strachey)

I know of no imports of cider apples since May, but we have not prohibited some private imports of cider needed by cider manufacturers for blending.

Mr. Amory

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that in my part of the world, where we are very partial to cider and like as much of it as possible, we do not like to see our cider apples lying about unused, and may I assure him that if he looks into the matter he will find that there are many apples lying about because there is no demand for them?

Mr. Strachey

That maybe, but I think the hon. Member will agree that we could not prohibit the import of cider for blending.

10. Mr. Lambert

asked the Minister of Food if he will give to the latest convenient date the monthly figures of the imports of cider apples and pulp for 1949 and the corresponding figures for 1948 and 1938.

Mr. Strachey

As the answer contains a table of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the table:

venient date the monthly figures of the imports of cider and perry for 1949 and the corresponding figures for 1948 and 1938.

Mr. Strachey

As the answer contains a number of figures, I will with, per-

IMPORTS OF CIDER AND PERRY IN EACH MONTH JANUARY TO DECEMBER, 1948. AND JANUARY TO SEPTEMBER, 1949
Month 1948 1949
Gallons £ Gallons £
January … … … — — 482,635 50,802
February … … … — — 350,737 33,419
March … … … 60,514 5,104 230,472 17,530
April … … … 192,818 19,117 35,313 3,497
May … … … 293,881 28,759 166,628 14,314
June … … … 152,892 15,177 115,601 10,457
July … … … 35,699 3,890 270,732 22,211
August … … … 115,300 11,160 107,596 8,790
September … … … 31,848 3,531 46,550 3,498
October … … … — — (not yet available)
November … … … — —
December … … … 118,558 12,561
Total January/December, 1948 … … … 1,002,510 99,299
Total January/September, 1949 … … … 1,806.264 164,518
Comparable monthly figures for 1938 are not available: the totals for the year January/December 1938 are as follows: 65,196 gallons valued at £1.433.
12. Mr. Lambert

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that cider apples are rotting in Devon orchards; and what assistance he proposes to give to growers to dispose of the crop.

Mr. Strachey

I understand that cider makers have bought apples this year to the limit of their storage and productive capacity. In order to assist both them and the growers, extra sugar has been allocated to them, to enable them to process the maximum quantity they can handle.

Mr. Lambert

Is the Minister aware that a large quantity of cider appears to have been imported, making it impossible for the cider manufacturers to take all the apples produced in the orchards?

Mr. Strachey

I do not think that, when the hon. Member looks into the figures he will find that they bear out that statement.

Forward to