§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the effects of recent oil prices on the glasshouse industry, in the light of his meeting with the National Farmers' Union and the Scottish National Farmers' Union.
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§ Mr. Anthony StodartHeating costs are a major item in the production of many glasshouse crops. A very substantial proportion of glasshouses are equipped for oil-heating, and growers are understandably much concerned about the increases in oil prices during the last twelve months. At the meeting which my right hon. Friend, my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland and I had recently with representatives of the Farmers' Unions, we made it clear that we could not, however, encourage hopes of special financial assistance to horticulturists in a problem which affects oil-consumers in every sector of industry.