HC Deb 14 December 1995 vol 268 cc1093-4
11. Mr. Jacques Arnold

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what efforts he has made to improve the marketing of British apples. [4138]

Mr. Boswell

We have a range of assistance to help our growers. For example, we paid a marketing grant of £150,000 towards establishing the largest top fruit marketing group, and have seconded a leading horticulturist to boost exports. These complement the welcome efforts of the industry itself.

Mr. Arnold

I welcome the Government's support for the marketing of apples because, as my hon. Friend knows, the best apples in Britain are grown in Kent. How does it help the marketing of those apples if massive subsidies are made for the production of apples on the continent? In particular, may I draw my hon. Friend's attention to the subsidy of FF240 million to French apple producers and the subsidy of 11.6 million Dutch guilders to Dutch producers? How do those subsidies help British producers get their excellent apples to the market?

Mr. Boswell

Our help to the British apple industry and its exports and marketing is well targeted. Any assistance given by other member states to their producers—especially in areas of production and surplus—will be subject to the most rigorous scrutiny and, if necessary, will be referred to the European Commission.

Mr. Foulkes

Is it true that relations between the Deputy Prime Minister and the chairman of the Tory party have sunk so low that the Deputy Prime Minister has been reduced to eating an apple a day?

Mr. Boswell

With great respect to the hon. Gentleman, I advise him to eat an apple a day—he will then feel a great deal better himself.

Sir Roger Moate

Given the general agreement in this country, on both sides of the House and in the industry that the present intervention system, particularly for apples, is quite intolerable—it is bad for the consumer, bad for the taxpayers and very bad for British apple growing—will my hon. Friend get a message to the Prime Minister in Madrid that we must not accept any deal that imposes for any length of time a continuation of that intolerable and unacceptable intervention system?

Mr. Boswell

My hon. Friend has great knowledge of the apple industry, which is an important interest in his part of Kent. I agree that the intervention system is harmful. We are entirely opposed to it and we have registered that opinion with the Community. We look forward to continuing negotiations towards a satisfactory outcome that removes the difficulties, costs and wastefulness of the current system.