Mr. Scottasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware of the loss sustained by amateur tomato growers in Northumberland who cannot obtain more than 8d. per pound for their surplus product; and whether he will consider fixing a new maximum price which will bear some relation 1420W to the cost of production and encourage owners of small greenhouses to grow more tomatoes next season?
Major Lloyd GeorgeThe Maximum Prices prescribed in the schedule to the Tomatoes (Maximum Prices) Order were fixed after consultation with representatives of the growers and the Agricultural Departments, and are designed to afford the efficient commercial grower a fair return on his crops over the whole season. It is not the practice of my Department to fix prices in relation to the costs of production of the amateur producer who does not grow primarily for the market.