HC Deb 25 March 1946 vol 421 cc16-8W
Mr. William Paling

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the lack of machinery for distributing vegetables and fruit that happen to be in good supply; and whether he will undertake to reorganise the price rates so that the producer can market, and the consumer have the advantage of such supplies.

Dr. Edith Summerskill

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to his next Question. My right hon. Friend is considering the whole question how to ensure that when there is a good supply of fruit and vegetables, as large a part of that supply as possible is brought to market.

Mr. William Paling

asked the Minister of Food the price margins allowable to wholesalers and retailers of fruit and vegetables; and whether he will consider setting up new machinery that will allow fruit and vegetables being made available to the consumer at a more reasonable price.

Dr. Summerskill

As regards the first part of the Question the information for which my hon. Friend asks cannot readily be given within the scope of a Parliamentary reply, and I would therefore refer him to the undermentioned statutory rules and orders prescribing maximum prices for fruit and vegetables at all stages of distribution:

Home Grown Fruit and Vegetables

The Home Grown Apples Order, 1945 (S.R. & O. 1945 No. 852) as amended by 1946 No. 248.

The Cherries Order 1945 (S.R. & O. 1945 No. 417).

The Pears Order 1945 (S.R. & O. 1945 No. 821) as amended by 1946 No. 248.

The Plums Order (S.R. & O. 1945 No. 785).

The Rhubarb (Maximum Prices) Order 1944 (S.R. & O. 1944 No. 1270) as amended by S.R. & O. No. 1487.

The Soft Fruit Order 1945 (S.R. & O. 1945 No. 429) as amended by Nos. 644 and 712 and 1946 No. 248.

The Home Grown Tomatoes (Control and Maximum Prices) Order 1945 (S.R. & O. 1945 No. 428) as amended by S.R.0.'s Nos 912 and 1326.

The Home Grown Cucumbers (Maximum Prices) Order 1942 (S.R. & O. 1942 No. 477) as amended by No. 1093, by 1943 No. 5 by 1944 No. 1291 and by 1945 No 970.

The Green Vegetables Order 1945 (S.R. & O. 1945 No 1169) as amended by 1946 No. 248.

The Leeks (Maximum Prices) Order 1943 (S.R. & O. 1943 No. 1134) as amended by No. 1762 by 1944 No. 1291 and 1946 No. 248.

The Green Onions Order 1945 (S. R. & O. 1945 No. 1669).

The Home Grown Onions Order 1945 (S.R. & O. 1945 No. 1382).

The Root Vegetables Order 1945 (S.R. & O. 1945 No. 1135) as amended by 1946 No. 248.

The Potatoes (1945 Crop) (No. 2) Order (S.R. & O. 1945 No. 1187).

The Carrots (1945 Crop) (No. 2) Order (S.R. & O. 1945 No. 1105).

Imported Fruit and Vegetables

The Imported Apples Order 1945 (S.R. & O. 1945 No. 1396).

The Bananas Order 1945 (S.R.& O. 1945 No. 1551) as amended by S.R. & O. No. 347.

The Citrus Fruit Order 1945 (S.R. & O. 1945 No. 1404) as amended by S.R. & O. 1946 NO. 133.

The Imported Tomatoes (Maximum Prices) Order 1945 (S.R. & O. 1945 No. 1325) as amended by S.R. & O. 1946 No. 325.

The Imported Onions Order 1945 (S.R. & O. 1945 No. 1410).

With regard to the second part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for Salisbury (Major J. Morrison) on 11th March, 1946, of which I am sending him a copy. My right hon. Friend's inquiry into marketing arrangements will cover the question of margins and prices.