Apples

HC Deb 05 March 1969 vol 779 cc119-20W

Mr. Gardner

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is his present policy on the importation of apples for processing; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Dell

Special arrangements are not normally made for the importation of apples for processing. In 1961 and 1967 when the home crops of culinary apples were short, licences for imports outside the normal quota arrangements were issued to processors.

Mr. Gardner

asked the President of the Board of Trade, how many licences were issued for the import of apples for processing in the years 1966, 1967 and 1968; and what were the quantities imported.

		Authorised 1963–1968	Authorised 1961–1964
		Total authorised	Completed	Total authorised	Completed
			'000		'000		'000		'000
		Number	sq. ft.	Number	sq. ft.	Number	sq. ft.	Number	sq. ft.
Great Britain of which	…	112	2,295	75	1,632	71	1,489	70	1,464
Cornwall	…	4	45	2	30	4	45	4	45

Mr. Pardoe

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total number of square feet, including advance factories, of factory space for which industrial development certificates have been granted in Cornwall during the four years 1965 to 1968, inclusive, compared with the number for the previous four years.

Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody

The information asked for is given in the following table.

INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATES APPROVED FOR CORNWALL, 1960–1968
				Estimated Additional Employment*
		Number	Area ('000 sq. ft.)	Males	Total
1961–1964	…	60	1,234	2,050	3,230
1965–1968	…	121	2,374	3,000	5,690
* Applicants' estimates of the additional employment expected to arise when the projects are completed and fully manned

Mr. Pardoe

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total number of square feet of factory space

Mr. Dell

No licences were issued outside the quota for the import of apples for canning or processing in 1966 or 1968. 47 licences were issued in 1967 under the special arrangements introduced for that season. Imports of apples for canning or processing are not separately identified in the trade accounts but returns made by processors who received licences under the 1967 arrangements show imports totalling 7,520 tons.