4. Mr. Gresham Cookeasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the landed price of imported Spanish carnations per lb. as compared with the price of the British produced product.
§ Mr. GodberThe average c.i.f. value of carnations imported from Spain during 1958 was 4s. 1d. a lb. before payment of the duty of 1s. 8d. a lb. There are no official returns of flower prices but trade reports indicate that Co-vent Garden Market prices for English carnations during that period ranged from 4s. to 36s. a lb. for glasshouse varieties.
Mr. Gresham CookeAs the imports of foreign carnations have risen very rapidly in the last two or three years, and as the prices my hon. Friend has given indicate that Spanish carnations are coming in very cheaply, will he bear these facts in mind in the discussions going on about tariffs for the protection of cut flowers?
§ Mr. GodberYes, this is just the sort of thing which is being borne in mind in relation to this particular point. I am sure that my hon. Friend will realise that I cannot make any further statement on that today.
§ Colonel BeamishIs my hon. Friend aware that there has been an increase of something like 50 per cent. in the imports of cut carnations in the last two or three years? Will he, therefore, look very carefully into this question to see that the industry is not being seriously damaged?
§ Mr. GodberI have indicated that we are looking at these things, and the figure which my hon. and gallant Friend quotes is something which we shall certainly keep in mind.