HC Deb 21 November 1949 vol 470 cc5-7
4. Mr. Heathcoat Amory

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that recent fruit imports coinciding with the availability of the home-grown crop is resulting in considerable wastage of the latter and discouragement to the growers concerned; and if he will take steps to reduce such imports.

mission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer:

Mr. Strachey

I could not agree that there was too much fruit available for the consumer at the present time. In any case, the import of fruit from most European and Commonwealth countries by private importers is now on open general licence.

Mr. York

Is not the Minister aware of the large quantities of apples and other fruit lying about on the ground all over the south of England?

Mr. Strachey

I do not know whether the hon. Member thinks that we ought to prohibit the import of fruit.

Mr. York

The Minister ought to control it.

Major Legge-Bourke

Is the Minister not aware that few of the apples that are not left lying on the ground can be sold, for the reason that the Minister himself has imported Nova Scotian apples and flooded the market?

Mr. Strachey

Only a small number of transatlantic apples have arrived in this country. After all. the price of apples is not low.

Mr. Collins

Is my right hon. Friend not aware that the main reason why some apples have been left on the ground is that they are not of sufficient quality for grading, and that home-grown apples which have been graded, as well as imported apples, can fetch a good price?

Mr. Baldwin

In answer to that last supplementary question, will not the Minister agree that it is a fact that there are thousands of boxes of graded fruit in the country which are not making the controlled price?

Mr, Strachey

The controlled price is a maximum I could not possibly say that it must always be reached.

Sir Waldron Smithers

Would not the Minister agree that the intrusion of political bias into economic affairs is the main reason for the economic crisis?

Mr. Strachey

I thought the friends of the hon. Gentleman were urging me to exercise control in this matter.

Mr. Amory

Will the Minister bear in mind that the hon. Member for Taunton (Mr. Collins) may speak for his own district, but is not speaking for Devon?

Mr. Collins

I am speaking for Somerset.