§ Mr. Bodyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many inspectors are available to make sure that cauliflowers imported from France conform to the Community regulations on grading.
§ Mr. GodberThe present strength of the Horticultural Marketing Inspectorate, which is the inspecting authority in England and Wales for the EEC grading regulations for fruit and vegetables, is 141. Any of the 133 inspectors based in the regions may inspect cauliflowers from any source.
§ Mr. Bodyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps are being taken to enforce the Community regulations on grading in the case of cauliflowers imported from France.
§ Mr. GodberCauliflowers—whether home grown or imported—are liable to inspection under the EEC grading regulations at all stages of distribution.
§ Mrs. FennerSince June 1970, manufacturers of fertilisers have increased their prices as follows:
- 1st January 1971 by 10 per cent.
- 1st June 1971 by 7½ per cent.
- 1st October 1972 by 7½ per cent. (excluding basic slag).
The overall increase in fertiliser prices since June 1970 is 26 per cent.
The price increases for the main groups of manufactured compound feeding stuffs and the index of compound feeding stuff prices between June 1970 and December 1972 are listed below:
of cauliflowers from France have been imported into the United Kingdom; and what quantity have been inspected to ensure that they comply with the grading regulations of the EEC.
§ Mr. GodberThe EEC regulations for cauliflowers did not apply to the United Kingdom until 1st February 1973 and official statistics of imports since that date are not yet available. A substantial tonnage of French cauliflowers has been inspected but detailed information could not be obtained without an unjustifiable use of resources.