§ Sir F. Markhamasked the President of the Board of Trade to consider a protective tariff to replace the present quota system in order to meet the possibility of a heavy fruit crop this season; and how far he proposes that the quota arrangements should be carried on for two or more seasons.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftAs regards the first part of the Question, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, South (Mr. J. E. B. Hill) on 3rd November. The position in relation to applications for changes in the50W protective tariff is still as stated in that reply.
As regards quota arrangements, imports of fresh fruits are restricted from sources other than the sterling area, Western Europe and certain other non-dollar countries and in the case of apples and pears from all countries outside the sterling area. I cannot forecast when the balance of payments position will enable these restrictions to be further relaxed or removed.