§ Mr. Staintonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent representations he has received from tomato growers regarding possible financial loss and closure arising out of his decision to terminate heating oil subsidies to glasshouses.
§ Mr. Strang:We have received 40 letters from growers of protected crops—not necessarily tomatoes—expressing concern about their production costs, and 24 letters from hon. Members writing on behalf of one or more of their constituents. Of these 64 representations 48 consisted of, or referred to, a standard printed letter giving details of costs for one particular nursery in the Lea Valley.
§ Mr. David Priceasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the average acreage of British horticulture under glass for each of the last 10 years; what percentage of this has been in heated glasshouses; and what have been the respective annual outputs measured both in current and fixed values.
§ Mr. Strang:The information is as follows:
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