HC Deb 28 October 1993 vol 230 cc963-4
4. Mr. Dickens

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what support she is giving to Apple Day.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. Nicholas Soames)

My ministerial colleagues and I have been pleased to participate in a number of recent events to promote the launch of the 1993 English apple season.

Mr. Dickens

Will my hon. Friend concede that there are many inefficient growers of tasteless apples in Europe, which swamp the market and cause surpluses, taking a lot of subsidies as a result? Does he agree that the money could be better used to promote the great English apple —I am thinking of the Blenheim Orange, Egremont Russet, Ashmead Colonel, Worcester Pearman, Chivers Delight, not to mention the Cox's Orange Pippin and a new apple called Kingdom. Is not that why the English apple pie is the envy of the world?

Mr. Soames

My hon. Friend should know. He is perfectly right. The traditional English apples have never been more popular in this country. It is right that consumers in Britain should be reminded now and again of the outstanding quality of English apples against less-flavoured foreign imports. It would be quite wrong for us to consider banning foreign imports, however. It is for consumers to decide what they want to eat. There is no doubt that, if they were to test the British apple against any foreign apple, the British apple would always win hands down.

Mr. Enright

First, may I congratulate the Minister on his forthcoming connubial bliss? Secondly, now that we have had a successful Apple Day, will he throw his weight behind a special day for Yorkshire rhubarb?

Mr. Soames

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman. We would be happy to do anything that we can to assist Yorkshire rhubarb.

Mr. David Nicholson

I also support the congratulations that have been given to my hon. Friend. Will he in turn congratulate the catering authorities of the House, which celebrated Apple Day by producing a rather imaginative menu using apples in all the restaurants of the House? Will he also have regard to the cider industry of Britain, which contributes significantly to the positive side of the balance of payments, and give it a degree of fiscal stability so that it can use British apples rather than foreign apples in its production?

Mr. Soames

I am grateful to my hon. Friend. I agree that the House catering authorities did a marvellous job on Apple Day. The House will be interested to know that, also on Apple Day, my right hon. Friend the Minister was presented with a traditional apple pie made with apples from the original Bramley tree, 180 years old on that day.

My hon. Friend asked about cider and fiscal stability. That is entirely a matter for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor, who I am sure will have heard my hon. Friend's remarks.