§ Mr. Freudasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received concerning the level of imports of strawberry pulp and the level of domestic production; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. FennerWe have received representations on behalf of strawberry growers about the impact on profitability of imports of strawberry pulp. We have no powers to act unilaterally on this. As a result of the pressure we have exerted, the European Commission has reached agreement with the Polish and Yugoslavian authorities on measures to safeguard the interests of strawberry and other soft fruit growers in the Community. My noble Friend the Minister of State is in touch with the farmers unions and will review developments with them next month.
§ Mr. Freudasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information is available to his Department in respect of the number of domestic producers of strawberry pulp and the number of domestic users of strawberry pulp in each of the last five years (a) in England and Wales and (b) in the East Anglian region.
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§ Mrs. FennerNo information is available on the number of domestic producers or users of strawberry pulp. It is understood that 17 per cent. of the strawberry area in England and Wales was for processing in 1984 and that over 90 per cent. of this was in the eastern region.
§ Mr. Freudasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will list in the Official Report such information as he has as to the average price per tonne of (a) domestic strawberry pulp and (b) imported strawberry pulp from each source country in each of the last five years; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. FennerNo information is available on average prices per tonne of domestic strawberry pulp. The information on imports is as follows:
United Kingdom imports of strawberry pulp. Average unit value (£/tonne c.i.f) 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 Netherland 425 299 378 441 411 FRG — — 478 554 303 Irish Republic 336 286 421 484 428 France — 490 — — — Italy — 340 — — — Greece — — — — 1,094 Poland 119 280 339 430 303 Israel — — — — 549 Source: United Kingdom Overseas Trade Statistics.
§ Mr. Freudasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will list in the Official Report (a) the strawberry acreage in England and Wales and (b) the tonnage of strawberry pulp imported, in total and from each source country, in each of the last five years; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. FennerThe information is as follows:
(a) Strawberry acreage, England and Wales 1980 to 1984 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 17,013 16,103 15,856 15,500 14,806
(b) United Kingdom imports of strawberry pulp 1980 to 1984 (tonnes) 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 Netherlands 651 752 1,797 2,470 2,219 Federal Republic of Germany — — 18 33 41 Irish Republic 1,609 1,433 1,088 1,107 1,206 France — 18 — — — Italy — 13 — — — Greece — — — — 1 Poland 7 843 1,982 1,416 1,090 Israel — — — — 2 TOTAL 2,267 3,059 4,885 5,026 4,559 Source:
(a) MAFF June agricultural and horticultural census
(b) United Kingdom Overseas Trade Statistics.