32. Mr. E. P. Smithasked the Minister of Food to what extent His Majesty's Government undertook to buy the 1947 crop of tomatoes in Guernsey; how much tonnage of this was shipped to this country; what price was paid; what ton-age was destroyed owing to its unsaleability on a glutted market; and what arrangements have been made with regard to the purchase of all or a part of the 1948 crop.
§ Mr. StracheyHis Majesty's Government did not buy the Guernsey or any other tomato crop in 1947. About 35,000 tons have already been shipped to this country this year by the Guernsey Tomato Shipping Board on terms of sale agreed between the Board and the various tomato distribution associations to which consignments have been sent. I know of no quantity of Guernsey tomatoes being destroyed in this country as unsaleable, but shipments of sub-standard tomatoes were suspended by the Guernsey Board for a week in September because the markets here became temporarily over-supplied. Government purchase of the 1948 crop is not contemplated.