§ 27. Mr. Alexanderasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what study he has made of the relative support to be given from all sources to French and United Kingdom top fruit growers.
§ Mr. WigginThe principal forms of assistance to top fruit growers in France are through low-interest loans for restructuring existing orchards, storage, refrigeration, and for hail damage. Assistance is available for planting new pear orchards, and for promoting French fruit exports.
In the United Kingdom there are grants for orchard grubbing, buildings, land improvements and equipment. Precise information is not available on the expenditure 676W in respect of top fruit but is estimated at about £1 million in 1979–80.
The absence of published information on values of French aids in some cases prevents direct comparison with the levels of support given to the United Kingdom industry.