§ Mr. Bernie GrantTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will make a statement on the dispute between Geest and Fyffes and Jamaican Producers regarding banana licences and transportation arrangements.
§ Mr. JackUnder the new EC banana regime, which came into force on 1 July 1993, the issuing of licences to import bananas into the Community to companies who apply in the United Kingdom is the responsibility of the Intervention Board executive agency. The board's officials have issued licences for the second half of this year entirely in accordance with the provisions of Council Regulation 404/93 and Commission Regulations 1442/93 and 1443/93. The dispute over licences between Geest and Fyffes and Jamaica Producers is a commercial matter which it is for the companies themselves to resolve.