§ Major Lyonsasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, having regard to the quantities of fruit and tomatoes available, he will organise regional fruit-drying plants and, to avoid waste, encourage non-conmercial growers to despatch their crop, surplus to their own requirements, to these centres for national use?
§ Mr. MabaneIt is considered that the tomato and fruit crops grown in this country can be absorbed either by public demand for fresh fruit or by the existing facilities for pulping and consumption by manufacturers. My Noble Friend does not consider it desirable to decrease still further the limited opportunities the public has for obtaining fruit in a raw state. In any case, tomatoes are unsuitable for drying.
§ Major Lyonsasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food the numbers of vegetable drying plants in operation; and the approximate dates on which the remainder under order will be ready for work?
§ Mr. MabaneFor the production of dried vegetables for direct human consumption as described in the reply to my hon. and940W gallant Friend's Question on 11th September, two pilot plants are at present in operation and 15 of the new large-scale plants are under construction. Arrangements for manufacturing and installing the remaining plants are in progress, but it is not possible to state the approximate dates on which they will commence operating.