§ Sir W. Darlingasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that British West Indies can meet all British requirements for grapefruit; and, in view of public disquiet, why he continues to allow these to be imported from Florida.
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§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftNo fresh grapefruit is available from the British West Indies during the summer, and during the rest of the year they can supply only a small part of our requirements. Our present main sources are South Africa and Israel. Since the war there have been no substantial imports from the United States of America, a major prewar source of supply, until 1954 when 1,680 tons, or about 3 per cent. of our total imports, were provided under Mutual Aid. This quantity was shipped in the colonial off-season. Discussions now proceeding may lead to similar arrangements for 1955. It is not proposed that canned grapefruit, of which the British West Indies are at present our main supplier, should be included in such arrangements.