asked the Minister of Food if, in view of the official estimate that there are plenty of good quality apples available, he will limit imports until such time as the main home crop has been marketed.

The submission in the Question is precisely what I am doing and propose to do. No apples have been imported since the end of July and, may I add, in view of the hon. Member's supplementary question on 18th September, he will be interested to know that those imported in July were Australian and New Zealand apples and not Italian apples as he said. Apart from a comparatively small supply of dessert apples which I hope will arrive from Canada in time for Christmas, no further imports will be permitted until the New Year when the great bulk of the homegrown crop will have been marketed.