HC Deb 10 December 1969 vol 793 cc411-3
9. Mr. Body

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will consult with the President of the Board of Trade on limitation of the import of horticultural items which British growers are capable of producing.

41. Mr. Blaker

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the policy of Her Majesty's Government regarding the limitation of the importation of horticultural produce which British growers are capable of producing.

Mr. Hoy

Whilst horticulture enjoys protection by tariff or, in the case of apples and pears, quota restrictions, my right hen. Friend and his right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade are agreed that rather than increasing such restrictions it should be our general policy to help the industry to improve its competitive efficiency so that home-grown produce will replace imports on its merits. To this end there are a series of measures to help growers improve their production and marketing arrangements.

Mr. Body

Would the right hon. Gentleman tell the President of the Board of Trade in plain terms that no less than £45 million worth of fresh vegetables and fruit are imported into this country which could perfectly well be grown here?

Mr. Hoy

I remind the hon. Gentleman that, because of Government assist- ance, the glasshouse acreage has increased by 294 acres and outdoor vegetable acreages are up by 30,000 acres compared with last June.

Mr. Baker

Is the Minister aware that one of the main problems facing growers of tomatoes and lettuces in my constituency is the astonishing and unsatisfactory way in which the prices realised fluctuate? Is he studying ways of bringing greater stability into the market?

Mr. Hoy

Yes. We hope that co-operatives will play a part in this. It is interesting to note that the glass acreage for tomatoes alone increased by 103 acres.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

Is my right hon. Friend aware that Questions have been asked about whether we could increase our exports of capital goods to countries such as Romania? Unless we buy something from Romania, that country cannot afford to buy our capital goods. There must be a two-way traffic. We appreciate my right hon. Friend's efforts.

Mr. Hoy

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising that point, because trade is a two-way traffic. Our country lives by trade. Therefore, while we want to export all that we can, we must enter into agreements with other countries so that trade can flow freely.

Mr. Stodart

Important as export-winning undoubtedly is, can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Government are firmly wedded to import substitution and what the potential is in this particular part of horticulture?

Mr. Hoy

We want to save all that we can. The Government and the industry have made tremendous investments. Grant payments for completed schemes under the Horticultural Improvement Scheme came to very nearly £10 million in the last three years. I think that the hon. Gentleman should be satisfied with what we are doing in this country to meet our own needs.

Mr. Nott

Would the right hon. Gentleman again consider a more flexible use of the tariff? I refer specifically to early potatoes. At the moment, the increase is made on a set date every year, regardless of conditions in the home market.

Mr. Hoy

We are always considering these matters. However, when we enter into tariff agreements, we must fix set dates when they come into force. If anything can be done to help, I will consider it.