HC Deb 03 July 1975 vol 894 cc508-9W
27. Mr. Newens

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether or not it is his policy to support the reduction of the size of the British glasshouse industry; and if he will make a statement.

31. Mr. Hastings

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the current state and prospects of the glasshouse sector of horticulture in the light of the latest Lardinois proposals.

32. Mr. Corbett

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the proposal of the European Community to give grants towards the destruction of heated glasshouses in the United Kingdom.

33. Mr. Blaker

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a further statement on his latest discussions with EEC Ministers regarding policy towards the glasshouse sector of the horticulture industry.

46. Mr. Biggs-Davison

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the present state of the glasshouse industry.

Mr. Strang

My policy for the glasshouse sector of the British horticulture industry is to encourage growers, principally through capital grants and the help available from the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service, to increase their productivity. So far this season significant progress has been made in recouping higher input costs from the market. My right hon. Friend and a number of other Ministers of Agriculture have criticised the Commission's draft regulation providing mandatory grants for the dismantling of glasshouses and it is now being re-examined.

44. Mr. Michael Marshall

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many representations he has received from the glasshouse industry during the last three months.

Mr. Strang

I assume that the hon. Member has in mind representations about fuel costs. During the three months from 3rd April to 2nd July we received 35 letters from growers, of which 24 were included in the figure I gave in my reply to the hon. Member on 17th April.—[Vol. 890, c.135]