HC Deb 03 February 1959 vol 599 c37W
Sir A. Bossom

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is satisfied that the present quota for imported pears from Western Europe and other countries which is fixed at £1,175,000 for the period from 1st July to 31st December is not detrimental in its present form to British farmers.

Sir D. Eccles

I have no evidence that the present arrangements have proved detrimental to British farmers. Restrictions on imports of pears were re-imposed in 1951 for balance of payments reasons. The quotas which were then established were based on the size and pattern of trade in the previous period without controls. As a result of the quotas imports into the United Kingdom have been much smaller than when there was no control.