§ 82. Mr. Alportasked the President of the Board of Trade to make a statement with regard to the import of apples and pears from North America during the season 1954–55; and what licensing arrangements have now been decided.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftAs announced last August, we have decided to allow limited imports of apples from North America this season. The intention is to license £900,000 f.o.b. from Canada and £600,000 f.o.b. from the U.S.A., mainly for import in the first half of 1955. It is expected that most of the U.S. apples will be obtained under U.S. aid. Licences are being issued to applicants in proportion to their pre-war trade in North American apples and partly to their postwar trade with other countries. No arrangements have been made for imports of pears.
§ Brigadier Medlicottasked the President of the Board of Trade what quantities of apples and pears will be allowed to be imported during the season 1954–55; and between what dates such imports will take place.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftThe quotas for apples and pears from O.E.E.C. countries for the period July to December this year are £500,000 and £1,175,000 c.i.f. respectively. In addition, there are small quotas for imports from other European countries. I hope to announce quotas for the first half of 1955 shortly. Arrangements are also being made to admit apples to the value of £1.5 million f.o.b. from this season's North American crop, most of which will come in during the first three months of 1955. There are no restrictions on imports from the sterling Commonwealth.