§ 67. Sir G. Nabarroasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what increases in pre-Christmas foreign apple 304W quotas he intends to make, or otherwise; and, having regard to the size of the English apple harvest, whether he will reduce foreign apple quotas.
§ Mr. GodberThis year's apple crop in the United Kingdom is substantially lighter than usual, and the overall supply position up to and after Christmas is under urgent consideration. An announcement will be made very shortly.
§ 68. Sir G. Nabarroasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to reduce the disparity between wholesale and retail prices for English apples, in the interests of the consumer.
§ Mrs. FennerThe Government's policy for controlling inflationary increases is embodied in the Counter-Inflation (Temporary Provisions) Bill. The available information suggests, however, that the difference between wholesale and retail prices for English applies has on the whole been lower this year than last.
§ Miss Quennellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of apples currently in store; and how this compares with the same figures for the past two years at mid-November.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartEstimates of quantities in store are not available. A broad assessment of the quantities marketed up to the end of October, compared with the estimated total crop, suggests that around 170,000 tons of dessert and cooking applies still remained on farms in England and Wales. This is about two-thirds of the comparable figure for the past two years.
§ Miss Quennellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether it is his intention to increase apple import quotas.
§ Mr. GodberThis matter is under urgent consideration and an announcement will be made shortly.