HC Deb 13 May 1971 vol 817 cc621-3

Mr. John Wells (by Private Notice) asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why 200 tons of Italian cherries are to be allowed to come to Hither Green for plant health examination, when this crop has been banned for the past two years on account of fruit fly.

The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. James Prior)

Because of the risk of introducing cherry fruit fly plant health import regulations currently prohibit the importation of raw cherries from the whole of Italy after 31st May. My scientific advisers are satisfied that in certain areas in Northern Italy control measures now in operation justify allowing trial consignments from these areas under special licence to arrive after that date. These consignments which must arrive in this country before 15th June will be carefully examined by my inspectors before being released for distribution.

Mr. Wells

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the Italians are extremely lax in their spraying programmes and, therefore, that this fruit must be highly suspect? It could have been examined cheaply and conveniently either at the port of entry or in Italy, and not brought to Hither Green, passing through the heart of the best cherry growing land in England. Is this is an example of my right hon. Friend bending over backwards to be a good European, thereby disregarding the interests of British horticulture? Furthermore, what has happened to all the assurances that the British agriculture plant health inspectors were to outsmart the continentals? We seem to have been outsmarted before we have begun.

Mr. Prior

This is an example of my hon. Friend's capacity for exaggeration. In so far as these bugs are to be allowed in—the fruit will be carefully inspected—they will not come as flies but as larvae, so that they cannot do any damage on the way through the cherry orchards of Kent. There will be a very careful examination. These are trials only. My scientific advisers went over this time last year to Italy to see whether the Italians were conforming with plant health regulations. They are doing so and I therefore have no power to stop the fruit from coming.

Mr. English

Is there not a serious point involved here? When the Treaty of Rome says that, even if one is a member of the Economic Community, one can still prohibit the import of any item if it contravenes health regulations, does that apply only to the health of human beings, or does it apply to diseases of plants and animals?

Mr. Prior

That is a slightly different question. Plant health controls in this country have been justified under the 1951 International Plant Protection Convention. There are draft directives on plant health controls within the Common Market, but they have not yet come into operation.

Mr. William Hamilton

Since British housewives will find it difficult to shop around in Rome or Florence, is not it better for the Italian cherries to be brought here, especially in view of the fact that the Government believe in competition?

Mr. Prior

Provided that these cherries are not bug-ridden when they arrive, I think that they are of advantage to the British housewife.