24. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Minister of Food why the Government have been buying pineapples in the Azores, which is a hard currency area; how many consignments are involved; what is the total quantity imported; and why they have not been purchased from Malaya, which is a soft currency area.
§ Dr. SummerskillThis purchase was arranged as part of a general trade agreement with Portugal. There will be from 14 to 18 shipments up to a total quantity of 850 tons, of which about 100 tons have already arrived. Private traders are free to import fresh pineapples from Malaya, but the quantity available is small and transport costs are heavy, so that up to the present no purchases have been made.
Mr. De la BèreDoes the Parliamentary Secretary realise how important it is not to deal with the hard currency areas but with areas where no hard currency is involved? I do not think there is any excuse for her, in spite of what she has said on this occasion.
§ Dr. SummerskillThe hon. Member must realise that if we can make an agreement which is very satisfactory to this country, we should do so.
Colonel Crogthwaite-EyreAs the Parliamentary Secretary says that this is satisfactory, is she not aware that there 20 have been great difficulties in trading with Portugal owing to lack of Portuguese currency? In these circumstances, why does she import pineapples, which merely means further aggravating our lack of Portuguese currency?
§ Dr. SummerskillThe House has been told on many occasions that when we arrange contracts of this nature, we cannot always discriminate against certain luxury products, which the country concerned is accustomed to produce and which we have in the past imported.
§ Colonel Gomme-DuncanDoes it mean that the purchase of these pineapples is part of a bulk purchasing deal for taking something else?
§ Dr. SummerskillCertainly, and for very important commodities.