HC Deb 14 May 1959 vol 605 cc1411-2
29. Mr. Cronin

asked the President of the Board of Trade what principles will be applied in dealing with applications for additional bulb quota; and, in view of the fact that the right to an import quota has a substantial marketable value, what steps will be taken to prevent persons from obtaining a greater quota than they intend to use.

Mr. Vaughan-Morgan

An advisory committee, representative of the various interests concerned, will assist the Board of Trade to allocate the additional quota equitably between applicants. I am sure that the committee will have the hon. Member's point well in mind.

Any allocations which have not been used by 31st January next will lapse and will be reallocated.

Mr. Cronin

Will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the effect of the quota is that the recipients of the quota make excessive profits and the consumers pay too high a price? Would not the most satisfactory arrangement be to abolish the quota altogether?

Mr. Vaughan-Morgan

My right hon. Friend has made it quite clear that we hope ultimately to be able to abolish this and other restrictions.

Major Legge-Bourke

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that there are some areas in England where bulbs are produced and that an unrestricted importation of Dutch bulbs would he highly damaging to those areas?