§ 34. Mr. Snowasked the President of the Board of Trade the number and value of licences to import grapes from Bulgaria refused and granted, respectively, by his Department in the last 12 months to the nearest convenient date; and the number and value of licences to import this product from Spain refused and granted, respectively, during the same period.
Mr. AmoryNo licences to import grapes from Bulgaria were issued in the last 12 months. In the first half of 1954, 97 licences to a value of £59,891 were issued for Spanish non-hothouse grapes. Details of refusals of licences are not readily available.
§ Mr. SnowCan the right hon. Gentleman say why there is this attitude towards Bulgaria in view of the fact that we in this country have no particular cause to love Spain? Is it not a very good thing to try to engage in trade with such countries as Bulgaria, to create an atmosphere in which other settlements may be possible?
Mr. AmoryYes, I agree with the hon. Gentleman in general that we want to engage in trade of that kind, but we are not yet in a position in which we can free grapes completely from import restrictions.