HC Deb 10 February 1959 vol 599 c997
36. Sir L. Plummer

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state the grounds on which he rejected the applications for an increase in tariffs on new potatoes, fresh tomatoes, broccoli, and cauliflowers or lettuce and endive.

Mr. J. Rodgers

A statement of the reasons for rejecting these applications was sent to the applicants. They published it, and it has since been reproduced in the Board of Trade Journal. My right hon. Friend sent a copy to the hon. Member.

Sir L. Plummer

I received that copy. Does not the Minister agree that this is a case of pressure from hon. Members on the back benches resulting in the Minister revealing some information to the House? Having published the reply, is not it time that the Minister looked at this again? It is totally unsatisfactory to horticultural interests and to the agriculture group of the Conservative Party and in any case it is an injustice.

Mr. Rodgers

I do not accept that any decision was made because of pressure from the back benches on either side of the House.

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