§ Mr. Ridleyasked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development whether he will consider removing the restrictions on imports of 72W frozen concentrated orange juice from the dollar area; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HeathIn accordance with requests received from the Governments of Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago the Government have decided to remove with effect from 14th March the restrictions at present imposed on imports into the United Kingdom of frozen concentrated orange juice from the dollar area. These restrictions, which were originally imposed for balance of payments reasons, have been maintained for the benefit of the West Indies.
Before deciding to do this the Government were concerned to ensure that the removal of the restrictions would not harm British Honduras.
The territory's citrus exports are doing well at the present time with a substantial increase in sales of frozen concentrate to Canada, where prospects are good. The United Kingdom market for citrus products in general is likely to be buoyant and we believe that British Honduras' prospects in this market are unlikely to be adversely affected by the removal of he restrictions on imports of frozen orange concentrate.
We have concluded that the removal of the restrictions would not harm British Honduras. However, if, contrary to our present expectations, British Honduras were harmed by their removal, then Her Majesty's Government would examine the position in consultation with the British Honduras Government and would consider what assistance could be given to the territory.