§ Mr. Craven-Ellisasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that a London firm of fruit importers has recently offered to British jam makers a supply of 3,000 tons of Bulgarian strawberries at a price approximately 4d. a pound less than the average cost of production in this country; and whether he is satisfied that British growers are adequately protected against such imports?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonI am aware of the offer of Bulgarian strawberries to jam manufacturers at a price of approximately 4d. per pound, and that this price has 713W been stated to be lower than the cost of production of strawberries in this country. I should explain, however, that most of the strawberries grown in this country are needed for the requirements of the consumers of fresh fruit and of the canners. I understand that imported strawberries and strawberry pulp are normally used to a considerable extent by jam makers who aim at putting on the market a strawberry jam at a popular price. As regards the last part of the question, growers are already protected by import duties both on fresh strawberries and on strawberry pulp, but if they are dissatisfied with the protection so afforded, it is open to them to make representations to the Import Duties Advisory Committee for increases in the rates of duty.