§ Mr. Staintonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to ensure that United Kingdom horticulturists using heating oil are placed on a fair competitive basis vis-à-vis certain continental producers who have been protected from oil price increases by Government fuel subsidies.
§ Mr. MoyleWe have no evidence that continental producers have been protected from oil price increases by Government fuel subsidies. Certain aids have been proposed but these fall short of full recoupment. We are, however, currently considering the whole question of British growers' heating oil costs.
§ Mr. Brocklebank-Fowlerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received about the disparity between British and Dutch prices of heavy fuel oil for heating in the glasshouse industry.
§ Mr. MoyleWe have received a number of letters from hon. Members and others and have had discussions with the farmers' unions about the recent increases in the prices paid by British growers of glasshouse crops for heating oils. References have been made to lower costs in the Netherlands, where most glasshouses are heated by natural gas.
§ Sir D. Walker-Smithasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware of the anxiety in the horticultural industry in regard to the injurious effect of the price of oil on growing under glass; and if he will take steps to ameliorate the situation.
§ Mr. MoyleWe are fully aware of the industry's concern about this matter and are currently considering it.