§ 18. Mr. P. Wellsasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make the quota for imports of apples from the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation countries dependent upon weight of imports and not on their monetary value.
§ Sir D. EcclesNo, Sir. Such a change would involve us in great practical difficulties.
§ Mr. WellsIs the President of the Board of Trade aware that the c.i.f. price of Italian apples has fallen so low as to afford no protection to the home producer? Will he look at this matter again, bearing in mind that this section of agriculture gets no assistance from subsidies?
§ Sir D. EcclesThe hon. Member possibly exaggerates the result of the fall of price. From July, 1956, to July, 1957, 59,000 tons costing £2.88 million were brought in, while 42,500 tons costing £2.4 million were brought in two years before. There was not such a tremendous difference in the prices.