HC Deb 03 July 1952 vol 503 cc611-3
22. Mr. Patrick Maitland

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will, forthwith, cut the quota of 7,200 tons of foreign tomatoes which may at present be imported into the United Kingdom during July, in view of the slump in prices on the Glasgow wholesale market which denies to Clyde Valley growers a reward for their investment and labour.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

I have nothing at present to add to the reply given to my hon. Friend's Question of 30th June.

Mr. Maitland

Is my right hon. Friend not aware that we have had assurances for the last six or eight months about reviewing the quota system, and will he kindly turn to its revision instead of its review?

23. Mr. Patrick Maitland

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the tonnage of Dutch tomatoes which he estimates to be prevented from entering the United Kingdom by reason of the Dutch Government's undertaking to restrict the validity of its export licences to 24 hours.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

I cannot give any quantitative assessment of the effect of this particular measure, which is one of several recently taken in the Netherlands to control exports of tomatoes to the United Kingdom.

Mr. Maitland

Is my right hon. Friend not aware that there is tension amounting almost to despair in the Clyde Valley at the failure to give them encouragement by reducing the import quota?

Mr. Thorneycroft

The only effect of the arrangement referred to in the Question would be to ensure that there was a rather more even flow of exports rather than a sudden dumping of large quantities.

24. Mr. Patrick Maitland

asked the President of the Board of Trade what quantity of Dutch tomatoes of all kinds were imported to the United Kingdom between 16th June and 30th June, 1952; and what amounts were of the lowest and of the next two qualities, respectively.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

According to information received by the Ministry of Food, the answer to the first part of the Question is about 2,900 tons. The information requested in the second part is not available.

Mr. Maitland

Is my right hon. Friend aware that that is 700 tons more than in the same period last year, and that the growers are complaining very bitterly about it?

Mr. Thorneycroft

It is substantially less than the quota authorised for the period.

Mrs. Mann

Is the President aware that the quota has been reduced and that the price had gone up yesterday by 1½d. per lb.; and that in any case the price of tomatoes in the wholesale market in Glasgow is always 3d. per lb. more than the price in England? Does the right hon. Gentleman know that housewives will not stand for any further increase in the price of tomatoes in order to please the vested interests of the hon. Member for Lanark (Mr. Patrick Maitland).

Mr. Thorneycroft

My right hon. Friend and I are informed, and will keep ourselves informed, of the situation. We will seek to hold a balance between the hon. Lady and my hon. Friend the Member for Lanark.

Mr. Maitland

On a point of order. May I ask the hon. Lady to withdraw the allegation that I have a vested interest in this matter? I have not.

Mrs. Mann

I have no wish to make any offensive remarks, but there are vested interests in South Lanark and the hon. Gentleman appears to be appeasing those interests. [HON. MEMBERS "Withdraw."] We have to bear in mind the two million people in the Clyde Valley, where there is heavy unemployment, and cheap tomatoes—[HON. MEMBERS: "Withdraw."]

Mr. Speaker

Order. The words "vested interests" are a mere cant phrase. Every interest is a vested interest. I think the hon. Lady only meant that the hon. Member was advocating the interests of an industry in his constituency. If that is always to be considered reprehensible, I do not know what we shall come to.

Mr. Maitland

On a point of order. May I say that I am greatly obliged to the hon. Lady for her graciousness to myself, but point out that these are the interests of very small growers and very poor people?

Mr. Speaker

I think the House understands that.