HC Deb 20 January 1983 vol 35 cc467-9
7. Mr. John Wells

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of total agricultural support was given to horticulture in the last year for which complete figures are available; and how this has varied over the previous 10 years.

Mr. Peter Walker

It is not possible to quantify the total support given to horticulture and other sectors of agriculture. I am in close and continuing touch with the industry on ways of helping growers. As my hon. Friend will know, since 1981, £10 million of aid has been given to glasshouse producers, and recently I announced important grants to the orchards sector.

Mr. Wells

Is my right hon. Friend aware that about one third of all the food that we consume and the flowers at which we look are produced by the horticulture industry, whereas the aid given to the horticulture section is much less than 30 per cent. of the total? Will he take steps, first, to congratulate the horticulture industry on standing on its own feet and, secondly, to ensure that, where help is given, it bites quickly?

Mr. Walker

Yes. Horticulture plays a very important part in our food production. From the interest shown by my hon. Friend in this matter, I know that he will recognise the considerable benefit to British horticulture of the Government's support for Food for Britain. The industry will benefit greatly from the marketing initiatives of that new organisation.

Mr. Newens

Does the right hon. Gentleman accept that the support given to horticulture in Britain compares unfavourably with that given in the Netherlands? His recent decision to wind up the Land Settlement Association in a cavalier manner represents an attitude towards horticulture that does not place sufficient importance on such an important sector of our economy. Does the right hon. Gentleman consider that, for all those reasons, we must have a new attitude and put much more into horticulture, as the Select Committee report said?

Mr. Walker

The hon. Gentleman makes a comparison with Holland, but he knows full well that we have negotiated successfully to bring about, by March, the eradication of the major aid received by the Dutch horticulture industry. As someone who has been very much in contact with what has happened on the LSA estates, I can say that our proposals have been welcomed enthusiastically by the majority of people on those estates.

Mr. Haselhurst

Does my right hon. Friend agree that, although we have reduced our dependence on food imports as a whole, there is still scope for further improvement in meeting home demand from our resources in the horticulture sector? Does that not merit reserving a higher proportion of support for horticulture?

Mr. Walker

For the past three years I have been willing to consider suggestions from the horticulture industry, and the Government have acted on many of them. I agree about the domestic market opportunities. There are even wider opportunities for exporting food. Several of our major fruit and vegetable co-operatives, which have embarked upon substantial campaigns in the European Community, have had considerable success in the past 18 months.

Mr. Hudson Davies

The Minister mentioned the glasshouse sector of the industry. Does he recognise the predicament of that sector? If so, what steps does he propose to take, not only in the short term, but in the long term, to assist that sector?

Mr. Walker

We are currently having talks with the leaders of this sector of the industry. Perhaps the most important area to consider is how the energy and heating arrangements for the glasshouse industry will continue. For example, in conjunction with the National Coal Board, we are studying new systems of heating which would be helpful to the industry.

Sir John Biggs-Davison

I compliment my right hon. Friend on what he has achieved with regard to the heating difference between the Netherlands and Britain. Is he of the opinion that later this year our growers will be competing on equal terms with the Dutch? If not, what further action does he propose?

Mr. Walker

With regard to energy, our growers will be competing on equal terms with the Dutch. We shall watch with close interest to see whether any other changes take place, either here or in Holland, in order to ensure that our people can compete on fair and reasonable terms.

Mr. Mark Hughes

Given that this is a most self-reliant and labour-intensive industry, is it not clear that, faced with the prospect of Spanish and Portuguese and potential Greek competition, the present level of Government and Community support for horticulture in Britain is wholly inadequate?

Mr. Walker

The hon. Gentleman should consider the impact on horticulture of Spain and Portugal. There are areas in which the competition could be increased, but there are other areas of horticultural production in Britain for which those countries will present important new markets.