§ Mr. Stonehouseasked the Lord Privy Seal if, in the negotiations in Brussels, he has accepted the common customs tariff of 20 per cent. on fresh bananas; and what estimate he has made of the effect of this duty on imports into Great Britain of bananas from Commonwealth countries not wishing to be associated states.
§ Mr. HeathIn view of the importance of the United Kingdom as a market for bananas from Commonwealth countries which are likely to become associated with the European Economic Community, the common external tariff of 20 per cent. is acceptable to us.
As I informed the House in my report of the ministerial meeting of 15th to 17th of November (Cmnd. 1882), it has been agreed that the common external tariff should be very gradually applied to all exports to the United Kingdom from Commonwealth countries which decide not to become associated. This would apply inter alia to bananas.
Only one Commonwealth country which exports bananas to this country, namely, Ghana, has made it clear that it does not wish to avail itself of the offer of association. Its exports of bananas are small; in 1961, they were 0.1 per cent. of its total exports.