§ Mr. WilsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures he proposes to protect Scottish soft fruit growers from subsidised east European imports; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythEast European imports of semi-processed soft fruit have been the subject of continuing representations to the European Commission since the collapse of the informal price agreements with Poland and Yugoslavia last year. The Government took the lead in ensuring that the Commission reacted to market disruption by introducing safeguard action in the form of minimum import prices in July 1990. These prices were originally intended to last until 31 December. They have, however, been extended to 31 March 1991 as the Commission was unable to meet its commitment to negotiate new price agreements on the basis of the undertaking given when substantial concessions were given by the Community on the extension of the generalised system of preferences to certain East European countries.
The Government have also made clear their view that, if satisfactory price agreements are still not negotiated before the expiry of the current arrangements, provision should be made for the safeguard action to continue for at least nine months to allow adequate cover during the 1991 marketing season.