asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the fact that long-keeping Egyptian onions have been put on the market and have ruined the market for English onions, he will, in future, before authorising imports, consult the Minister of Agriculture as to the home-grown supplies available.

As the import of Egyptian onions, which are of the dry bulb variety, stopped from 1st July and the main English season for bulb onions does not begin until mid-August, I cannot agree that the English market for these onions has been affected by Egyptian imports. My right hon. Friend, the Minister of Agriculture is invariably consulted before any arrangements are made for importations of vegetables.