HC Deb 03 April 1950 vol 473 cc836-9
16. Mr. Geoffrey Wilson

asked the Minister of Food whether he is satisfied that the issue of a general licence to permit the import of new potatoes from European France between 21st March and 31st May next will not cause financial loss to Cornish growers, in view of the fact that the Cornish crop is expected to come on to the market during the last two weeks of May.

Mr. S. N. Evans

There is seldom any large quantity of new potatoes from Cornwall ready in May, and it is not anticipated, therefore, that difficulty will arise.

Mr. Wilson

Would the Minister agree that if West Cornish potatoes start coming on the market at the end of May, at the same time as French and Jersey potatoes, there may be an accumulation which would carry over into the first week in June and cause a glut when the bulk lifting of Cornish potatoes takes place?

Mr. Evans

My information is that there is seldom any large quantity of Cornish new potatoes ready in May. This question ties up with the attempts which we are making to liberalise European trade.

Mr. Hayman

Will the Parliamentary Secretary reconsider the date of expiry of the general import licence if he is assured that sufficient quantities of Cornish new potatoes are available early in May?

Mr. Evans

I am going to look into that.

24. Mr. Bossom

asked the Minister of Food which of the following fruits and vegetables are to be received in this country under the Trade and Financial Agreement between the United Kingdom and Czechoslovakia of 28th September, 1949, for which we agreed to pay the sum of £1,900,000 in the first year; and whether there are any others not here listed: onions, bilberries, horseradish, fresh cherries, fresh plums, apricots, fresh pears and apples.

Mr. S. N. Evans

Under the Trade and Financial Agreement with Czechoslovakia, the trade has imported very small quantities of onions, bilberries and pears; no other fresh fruits or vegetables have been received or are expected in the first year of the Agreement. The figure of £1,900,000 to which the hon. Member refers relates almost entirely to imports of foodstuffs on private account, and will only be reached if traders think the demand in this country warrants it.

Mr. Bossom

Can the Minister give an assurance that no British farmers will suffer on account of this Agreement?

Mr. Evans

I cannot give a guarantee to that extent. It is in the interests of this country to expand world trade as much as possible, and that can only be done if we are prepared to deal with other countries as we expect them to deal with us.

Mr. Coldrick

Will the Parliamentary Secretary have regard to the requirements of the consumer at the same time as he is considering the interests of the producer in this matter?

Mr. Evans

Yes, Sir.

27. Mr. David Renton

asked the Minister of Food how many tons of apples were imported by his Department during 1949; what were the respective amounts of foreign currencies used to buy those apples; what was the sterling equivalent of the total sum; what total sum of money was received by his Department from the sale of the apples in the United Kingdom; and what percentage of the apples so imported were wasted.

Mr. S. N. Evans

Approximately 88,000 tons of apples, valued in sterling at about £3 ¾ million c.i.f., were imported by my Department in 1949. The only non-sterling currency included in this figure was approximately 700,000 dollars for Canadian apples. The amount realised on sale, after meeting distribution costs in this country, was about £5¼ million. The wastage was about 3 per cent.

Mr. Renton

Could the hon. Gentleman say what amount of dollars was represented by that wastage?

Mr. Evans

No, Sir; not without notice.

Earl Winterton

Is the hon. Gentleman aware of the very large sums of money invested in scientific apple culture in this country in the last few years, the large amount of employment given and the value of the trade? Will he have regard to those facts in any future negotiations for the purchase of foreign apples?

Mr. Evans

We always have full regard for the interests of home producers.

Mr. Bossom

Is the Minister aware that a good many Kentish growers of apples last year did not sell all they grew? Is it not very unfortunate that we should be importing apples when we have very good apples of our own which we are not able to sell?

Hon. Members

Bring the price down.

Mr. Evans

Foreigners often pack and market apples more attractively than we do.

Mr. Mellish

If my hon. Friend knows of any of these good apples which Kentish farmers are unable to sell will he send them to Bermondsey? We have none there.

Captain Crookshank

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the Government refused to allow home growers to have the packings for which they asked?

Earl Winterton

In view of the serious charge which he has just made will the hon. Gentleman remember that his colleague, the Minister of Agriculture, has said on more than one occasion that the best apple packing in this country is better than that of anywhere else in the world? Will he withdraw his statement, which was a serious reflection on the industry?

Mr. Evans

I do not want to be offensive to anybody, but I say that foreigners often grade and pack their commodities rather more attractively than some of our people do at home.

Mr. Paton

Is it not the case that, in spite of great developments in home growing during the last few years, it is still almost impossible to buy decent eating apples in many places in this country?

28. Mr. Renton

asked the Minister of Food how many tons of pears were imported by his Department during 1949; what were the respective amounts of foreign currencies used to buy those pears; what was the sterling equivalent of the total sum; what total sum of money was received by his Department from the sale of the pears in the United Kingdom; and what percentage of the pears so imported were wasted.

Mr. S. N. Evans

My Department did not import any pears in 1949. The remaining parts of the Question do not, therefore, arise.