§ 8. Mr. Grahamasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the current profitability of the glasshouse sector of the horticulture industry.
§ Mr. StrangThe glasshouse sector is too diverse to enable an overall estimate of profitability to be made. However, on the information available so far this season I believe that efficient growers are obtaining satisfactory returns.
§ Mr. GrahamBearing in mind the current situation, does the Minister agree that the market is sufficiently buoyant to give a good return to glasshouse growers and that the special subsidies given to the industry were obviously given at the right time?
§ Mr. StrangMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. Unlike some other members of the Community, we concentrated the subsidy into last year, when it was badly needed. It is the case that wholesale tomato prices, for example, are up by 45 per cent., which is very helpful to the industry.
§ Mr. Edward GardnerIs the Minister aware that many of my constituents who
§ exist throughout the Community. However, I reject absolutely the suggestion that we have been in any way complacent. I hope that the hon. Gentleman, like me, welcomes the firm prices which his horticultural producers are receiving at present.
§ Following is the information:
§ are engaged in the glasshouse industry are now in considerable financial difficulty? They fear that these difficulties will become even more formidable as winter approaches. What are the Government prepared to do to stave off the threat of bankruptcy, which is a real threat to these people?
§ Mr. StrangThe hon. and learned Gentleman should recognise that the amount of money put into the British industry in the form of oil subsidy compares extremely favourably with that paid in any other member State of the Community. He should also not lose sight of the capital grants that we give and the help that the ADAS gives to growers who wish to convert to more efficient forms of heating.
§ Mr. NewensDespite his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Edmonton (Mr. Graham), does my hon. Friend not recognise that many growers have been very hard hit by the increase in fuel prices? Is he not aware that as a result of the refusal to extend the subsidy, many of our growers are working at a severe disadvantage, as compared with Dutch growers, who are enjoying a considerable subsidy at present?
§ Mr. StrangI think that my hon. Friend will recognise that the British Government moved very quickly to pay the subsidy when it was most needed. We really cannot go on indefinitely providing an operating subsidy to an industry which is getting very good prices for its produce.