HC Deb 08 July 1946 vol 425 cc23-4W
Mr. Gammans

asked the Minister of Food when he expects that increased supplies of almonds, nuts, candied peel, bananas and tropical and semi-tropical fruit will be on sale to the British public.

Mr. Strachey

I am doing all I can to obtain almonds and other nuts and candied peel in sufficient quantities to make supplies available to the public. Supplies of nuts have improved recently, but as they are still insufficient for retail distribution, they have gone to manufacturers. The needs of vegetarians are still being met. The first postwar purchase of peel has just been made and when candied will go to the cake and flour confectionery trade. Bananas are the only tropical and subtropical fruit of which significant quantities are available and supplies will increase during the coming months as the plantations recover from the recent havoc caused by hurricanes and tornadoes.