HC Deb 24 April 1939 vol 346 cc795-6W
Sir A. Baillie

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the great wastage of fruit which occurs in this country when there is a large crop, he can state what steps are to be taken before the ripening of the next fruit crop to make proper arrangements for the conversion of surplus fruit into fruit-juice and other liquid products?

Sir R. Dorman-Smith

For many years past the Ministry has grant-aided research work on this subject at the Long Ashton Research Station, and satisfactory methods for conversion of surplus fruit into fruit-juices and other liquid products have been evolved. At the present time

Commodity. England Wales. Scotland
1925–6. 1936–7 1937–8. 1925–6. 1936–7. 1937–8. 1925–6. 1936–7 1937–8
Beef ('000 cwt.) 7,200 8,719 8,472 (a) (a) (a) 3,000 2,993 2,748
Veal ('000 cwt.) 630 775 716 46 44 19
Mutton and Lamb ('000 cwt.) 3,003 3,344 3,417 1,192 1,293 1,200
Pig meat 5,474 7,616 7,083 253 456 483
(b)Milk (million galls.) 1,150 1,314 1,300 170 180 179
Poultry ('000 head) 19,460 23,750 31,250 2,754 2,219 2,775
Eggs (million) 1,632 2,895 2,755 239 389 441
(c) Wheat ('000 tons) 1,343 1,363 1,378 17 15 15 44 8l 95
(c) Barley ('000 tons) 975 644. 558 35 19 18 112 42 66
(c) Oats ('000 tons) 1,278 974 837 101 106 101 285 287 323
(c) Potatoes ('000 tons) 3,078 2,720 3,027 136 94 99 775 842 699
Fruit ('000 cwt.) 10,624 12,617 8,841 (a) (a) (a) 170 278 278
(a) Included in England. Separate figures for Wales are not available.
(b) Total production of milk for all purposes other than that fed to livestock,
(c) Total production. A proportion is used for purposes other than human consumption.

As regards the second part of the question, the Government's agricultural policy as a whole, including further measures in prospect, is calculated to improve the productive capacity of the land.

Major Procter

asked the Minister of Agriculture (1) whether, in view of the importance of fostering home production at least six factories are in operation producing excellent fruit-juices by means of the processes developed at Long Ashton. My hon. Friend is doubtless aware that at the end of last month a successful open conference was convened at Long Ashton with the object of securing more widespread public recognition of the value of fruit-juices and the desirability of extended production.