§ 2.35 p.m.
§ LORD MACPHERSON OF DRUMOCHTERMy Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether it is true that an increased allocation of two million dollars for canned fruit has recently been granted to the United States fruit canners, and that a similar application from Canadian fruit canners has been refused.]
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER (THE EARL OF SELKIRK)My Lords, all imports of canned fruit from the dollar area have had to be very closely restricted in recent years. An exception is made for canned 1041 fruit financed under a United States Aid programme which does not cost dollars. Imports have, however, been allowed from Canada in order to enable Canadian suppliers to maintain their traditional links with our markets. We regret that these have necessarily had to be very limited.
§ LORD MACPHERSON OF DRUMOCHTERMy Lords, while thanking the noble Earl for his reply, may I ask whether consideration can be given to the point that the use of M.S.A. funds to import United States labelled and branded canned fruits to the exclusion of the same type of Dominion produce falls hardly on countries like Canada, and should be confined to bulk products.
§ THE EARL OF SELKIRKI appreciate the point which the noble Lord makes, and I think we are keenly aware of it. I have not, perhaps, got the meaning of his last sentence. Perhaps we might consider it.