§ Mr. Adleyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of the retail cost of tomatoes he attributes to (a) growers' cost, (b) administrative charges, such as grading, undertaken by the grower, (c) transport, (d) packaging, (e) sales cost before retailing and (f) retailers' costs; and what steps he will take to reduce the second of these.
§ Mr. StrangThese costs differ widely according to the varied circumstances in which tomatoes are grown and distributed. Any estimated percentages I gave could, therefore, be very misleading. Tomato growers are assisted to reduce costs generally by my Department's Agricultural Development and Advisory Service and through grants on the eligible capital costs of buildings and equipment, which may include grading and labelling machinery.