§ 37. Mr. Newensasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the comparison between the cost of fuel used by glasshouse growers in other countries in the EEC and that used by growers in Great 639W Britain and the steps taken to date to equalise these.
§ Mr. StrangThe cost of oil to British growers does not differ significantly from the cost of that used by growers in other EEC countries although Dutch growers still derive some benefit from cheaper supplies of natural gas. Fuel costs are, of course, only one of the factors affecting competition between glasshouse growers.
The EEC Commission, after discussions with member States, set guidelines for fuel aids in June 1974 and these were extended in April 1975. British growers received a generous fuel subsidy within the guidelines. All aids under the guidelines had to end by 30th June 1976.