55. Mr. SHAWasked the Minister of Agriculture if, considering the present price of potatoes and the stocks of potatoes at present in this country, he will consider the advisability of temporarily prohibiting their importation?
§ Major ELLIOTI have no powers to take the action suggested by my hon. Friend.
62. Mr. McKIEasked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that the Irish Free State Government is offering a higher bounty on potatoes for export to Great Britain from their wart-disease scheduled districts than on potatoes from their clean areas; and if he will take 808 steps to prohibit the importation of such potatoes into Great Britain?
§ Major ELLIOTThe sale of Irish potatoes in this country, whether for planting or for consumption, is governed by the Wart Disease of Potatoes Order of 1923, of which I am sending a copy to my hon. Friend. I have no reason to question the efficacy of these Regulations, but if my hon. Friend has any evidence to the contrary I shall be happy to consider it.