§ 5. Mr. TICKLERasked the Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that recently large quantities of new unmatured potatoes have been purchased in Lincolnshire for the Admiralty at an average cost of £15 per ton, there being in the same districts thousands of tons of best table potatoes selling at 50s. per ton; and whether, in view of the economy which Cabinet Ministers are urging the public to practise, he will explain why these purchases have been made?
§ Dr. MACNAMARANo such price as £15 per ton has been paid by the Admiralty for new potatoes. All supplies of 346 potatoes shipped in bulk to the Grand Fleet have been old potatoes, purchased at the very favourable prices obtainable on the open market, but at some of the ports round the coasts of the United Kingdom His Majesty's ships obtain their fresh vegetables under running contracts, which provide for the supply of new potatoes, to begin each year on the 1st July, and in some cases new potatoes have been supplied at the average prices in the contracts.