41. Mr. MONTAGUE BARLOWasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether the farmers in South and West Lancashire are suffering from a glut of potatoes; whether merchants at the Ormskirk market reported recently that the potato trade was at a standstill owing to the over supply; whether hundreds of acres of potatoes are in consequence wasting; and whether, in view of the possible shortage of food, the Government will consider the purchase of the over supply of potatoes and their storage till required?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Acland)Owing to the fact that there were ample supplies of potatoes last year, there appears to be a surplus from the old crop, but the Board are not aware that any large part of this surplus is in farmers' hands. If dealers have, as there is some reason to suppose, held back part of the old crop until it was too late to sell it at the prices they had hoped for, this is not a matter which the Government could remedy by the steps which the hon. Member suggests—for no shortage of potatoes is anticipated—and the remainder of last year's crop could not now be stored without very rapid deterioration.