We are concerned about what the trade effects are going to be particularly for the South African and Zimbabwean

"We are concerned about what the trade effects are going to be, particularly for the South African and Zimbabwean producers," said one. "The other non-producing states do not appear to have woken up to the possible effects on consumers and suppliers."Traditionally Britons have eaten little citrus fruit in the summer because of poor quality. During the past decade, eating habits have been changed by imports of superior fruit from the southern hemisphere.Britain now imports 186,000 tons of citrus fruit each year from this source, with 98,000 tons coming from South Africa and 53,000 tons from Argentina and Uruguay. During the winter, the market switches to southern Europe, Israel and the United States.The pests identified by the Brussels committee pose no risk to human health and have never caused any problems to the British supply trade. The fruit flies die when they encounter the British climate.The proposed restrictions come against a background of arguments over moves for closer trade links between Europe and South Africa, which is seen as a threat by some member states because of its low production costs.Doug Henderson, chief executive of the Fresh Produce Consortium, said: "The southern member states are using plant health regulations as a means of protecting their market inside Europe ...

[the moves] will restrict competition, restrict consumer choice and push up prices."The EU committee may agree a compromise, allowing the import of citrus fruit which has been subjected to chilling and vapour treatments Such treatments would not be possible for this year's crop.. The Government's claim that its European policy poses no threat to inward investment is called into question today by a United Nations report showing that the UK's share of foreign investment in the European Union has fallen sharply. Today, Adair Turner, the Confederation of British Industry's director general, will issue an unusually outspoken warning against the dangers of British isolation from Europe. These alarm signals will severely embarrass the Government, which has always claimed that its opt out from the social chapter and other signs of semi-detachedness actively attract overseas businesses. However, it is likely to strengthen the Chancellor Kenneth Clarke's pro-European position against the sceptics in the Cabinet.Mr Turner, in a speech to businessmen in Cardiff, will say that Europhobia is increasing Britain's isolation within the EU "Our views will go unheeded, our influence will diminish. Ultimately our access to the single market could be at risk - to our enormous economic disadvantage."The CBI chief's views were backed by the normally Euro-sceptic Institute of Directors yesterday. Ruth Lea, head of policy at the rival employers' organisation, said: "In so far as there is a feeling among overseas investors that Britain might cut loose from the EU, this is a matter for concern."Mr Turner's warnings are given extra force by today's report from the UN's Conference on Trade and Development. This shows that Britain's share of rising investment in Europe by foreign companies, especially from Japan and the rest of Asia, has shrunk.Robin Cook, the shadow Foreign Secretary, said: "These figures show how hollow are the Tory boasts on inward investment.

The UK share of inward investment from the Far East has dropped fast."Today's developments follow warnings by big companies that the UK's negative attitude to its European partners and the single currency might affect their investment plans. The Japanese car manufacturer Toyota, Germany's Siemens, and British-based companies including BP and Unilever have all spoken out.Business, page 20. Can you make an anorak out of ermine? And what does the Queen think is cool? The answers may be revealed next week when the Queen gets her own site on the World Wide Web. She will join the ranks of caffeine- fuelled American adolescents with 150 pages of information about royal topics, from finance to descriptions of the palaces and the private estates.

Buckingham Palace said yesterday that the site's World Wide Web address will not be revealed until it is officially launched on Thursday. "In the modern day and age, if there's a Web out there the Queen should be on it," said a spokeswoman. "We don't all use quill pens here, you know - we're on computers too." She would not say whether the site will contain "hot links" to other Web addresses - a popular way of pointing surfers to "cool" sites. Charles Arthur. Nicola Horlick, the former high-flying pensions executive who was ejected from her job with one of the City's big banks in January, is joining one of the financial industry's smaller firms - Ely Fund Managers - it was reported last night. Ms Horlick, dubbed "Superwoman" for her ability to juggle her job as pensions fund manager at Morgan Grenfell with her role as a mother of five children, was ousted from the bank over allegations - which she denies - that she tried to lure her team of staff to a rival fund manager Matthew Brace. Wales will celebrate St David's Day tomorrow with the news that the remains of its patron saint are not where they were thought to be.