§ Mr. Bossom(by Private Notice) asked the Minister of Food if he can do anything to prevent the loss of a considerable portion of this year's apple crop in Kent for, as the Government have contracted for the purchase of so many foreign grown apples, the farmers cannot get a price that permits them profitably to pick this year's crop. Further, will he allocate sugar to the cider manufacturers so that they may purchase a sufficient tonnage of the Kentish applies to avoid some of this waste.
§ The Minister of Food (Mr. Strachey)The marketing difficulties which some apple growers are meeting is the result of the drought which has affected the quality of a large part of the crop. Good graded apples are making fair prices. The only imports arranged are for 1 lb. per head of the population from Canada and as these will not be on sale for some time they cannot affect the position. As regards the second part of the Question, we are already giving sugar to cider manufacturers on a larger scale than last year.
§ Mr. BossomWould the Minister take the trouble to go through the Maidstone Division, or the Canterbury Division, in order to see the large quantity of apples which cannot be picked for this very reason?
§ Mr. AlpassDoes not my right hon. Friend agree that if the fruit growers graded and packed their fruit in a more attractive manner they would command a much better price in their own towns?
§ Colonel Gomme-DuncanWill the right hon. Gentleman say from where would come the material for this packing?