§ 77. Mr. Dribergasked the Minister of Food if he is aware that confusion has been caused among fruit growers by the discrepancy between his statement on 29th July of his intention to remove price control from all home-grown apples as soon as supplies were sufficient, with the encouragement then given to growers to make the necessary preparations for grading, packing, and marketing, and his more recent statement that this control is not yet to be lifted; if he is aware that some 80 per cent. of the apples produced in the county of Essex this year have been graded to a good standard before being sent to market; and if, while retaining all controls necessary in the consumers' interest, he will endeavour to avoid changes of policy which tend to discourage growers from planning their work efficiently.
§ Dr. SummerskillThere has been no change of policy. My right hon. Friend hoped this season to give growers a period of freedom from control as we did last year. But at no time have apples been marketed in sufficiently heavy quantities to justify the lifting of control. We are anxious to give growers every encouragement to maintain good grading standards but we must also ensure that consumers get apples at reasonable prices.