HC Deb 20 December 1955 vol 547 c285W
70. Major Legge-Bourke

asked the President of the Board of Trade why he has authorised the importation of strawberry pulp from Bulgaria, Hungary and Poland; how much is expected to come; and if he is aware that the price at which this imported pulp is made available to preservers is below the costs of production for the 1955 home-grown strawberry pulp.

Mr. Low

Quotas for fruit pulp have been included in our trade agreements with Bulgaria and Hungary. In addition, to avoid a possible shortage of pulp for jam making, licences were issued for imports of fruit pulp from Poland. The total of the licences so far issued for strawberry pulp under these arrangements is just over £100,000 c.i.f., but I cannot forecast how much of this will actually be imported.

As regards the last part of the Question, I have no information about the price at which this imported pulp is being offered. This is a commercial matter to be settled between the parties directly concerned.