§ Mr. Watkinsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what conclusions he has reached about sales of English apples before they are ready.
§ Mr. StrangIt is important that the season for home-grown apples should get off to a good start, and that growers and traders should, therefore, not sell fruit until it is sufficiently mature. We have carefully considered whether it would be right to use an EEC provision, not so far applied in this country, which aims to limit sales of immature apples and pears by increasing during the early season the minimum sizes at which growers can market certain varieties. We have, however, concluded that further study is needed, and that, in any case, abnormal climatic conditions would make this a difficult year to introduce a new requirement. The normal minimum sizes will, therefore, again apply this year to early as to later marketings, but I hope that all growers and traders will make a special effort to keep immature home-grown apples off the market in the longer-term interests of both growers and consumers.