Major Hicks Beachasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the import licences granted for fruit pulp in respect of the period ended 30th June, 1953, show an increase of more than double on the previous period; and whether he will reconsider this matter in order to prevent the hardship this will cause to home producers.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftLicences have been issued for imports of fruit pulp in the 12 months ending 30th June, 1953, from the O.E.E.C. and certain other countries to which our import restrictions apply, to a value of some £1,250,000. There is no question of withdrawing these licences.
The previous licensing period covered rather less than eight months, from 8th November, 1951, to 30th June, 1952, and the total value of licences issued was about £900,000; this figure included licences granted in excess of the published quota in order to permit the fulfilment of certain contracts concluded before the announcement of the restrictions. The rate of licensing in the present period is, therefore, lower than in the previous one.