§ Mr. Hall-Caineasked the Minister of Agriculture whether in view of the increased consumption of fruit-juice in this country, he proposes to take any steps to assist British fruit growers in developing and protecting the establishment of a fruit-juice producing industry in this country?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonFor some time research designed to assist the development of fruit juice production in this country has been in progress with financial assistance from the Government. Provision for this work has recently been extended. A National Mark scheme under the Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Acts has also been introduced with a view to encouraging the production and consumption of home produced fruit products, including fruit juices, of certain defined standards of quality.
Foreign fruit juices of the kinds produced from home-grown fruit are subject to a duty of 10 per cent. ad valorem. If home producers consider that the protection thus afforded is insufficient, it is open 885W to them to make representations on the subject to the Import Duties Advisory Committee.