§ Captain Duncanasked the President of the Board of Trade to make a statement of his policy regarding the imports of fruit, flowers and vegetables in 1953; and regarding the imports of fruit pulp during 1953–54.
§ Mr. MackesonQuotas for 1953 for imports of most fresh fruits from Western European and certain other foreign countries have already been announced. Some of these quotas are for the whole year and others for the first six months.
Imports of most vegetables from Western European and certain other foreign countries may be made under open general licence which will, as at present, be subject to suspension for certain items during the main marketing seasons of the home crops. A detailed announcement will be made shortly. No decision has been taken on the value of imports of fruit pulp from foreign countries during the year beginning 1st July, 1953. In 1952, there were one or two small quotas for these goods from countries not included under the above arrangements and similar quotas may be arranged in 1953.
Quotas for imports of cut flowers will be arranged, as in previous years, under bilateral trade agreements.
Imports of fresh fruit and vegetables and of most types of fruit pulp from the sterling area may be made under open general licence.