§ 9. Mr. John Wellsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied that the proposed compensatory levies on apples and pears will be an effective replacement of quotas; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartThe purpose of the compensatory levy on apple and pear imports is to align our prices with those of the Community over the course of the transitional period, and my right hon. Friend is satisfied that it will meet this purpose as effectively as manipulation of the quota.
§ Mr. WellsIs my hon. Friend aware that this is only a glorified tariff under another name, that it is a tariff reducing every year, and that for the last 20 years we have been told that tariffs are impossible to operate for apples and pears? Why, then, is there this complete change of heart?
§ Mr. StodartBecause the quota was regarded as being restrictive and offensive in the eyes of the E.E.C., and it is a fact, I believe, that the compensatory levy will meet the purpose as effectively.
§ Sir G. NabarroOn the question of apples—particularly Worcestershire apples—is my hon. Friend aware that Commonwealth apples have always flowed into this country without restriction or quota, and foreign apples have been allowed to come in at much too great a volume, a matter of 470,000 tons in this present half-year? What steps are we to take to protect our own growers against the depredations of unfair foreign competition from Europe?
§ Mr. StodartIt is very unusual for my hon. Friend to get his figures wrong, but on this Ocasion he has. We have always said that there is no doubt that there will be increased competition either way, whether by quotas or levy, for the apple growers. We have never tried to disguise that, and it is undoubtedly appreciated by the industry.