§ 24. Mr. NOEL BUXTONasked the President of the Board of Agriculture the intention of the Government in regard to fixing the prices for seed potatoes; and whether the Board of Agriculture can give an assurance that there will be an adequate supply of small seeds for allotment holders?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Prothero)The hon. Member will see, in the Seed Potatoes (1917 crop) Order, which I am sending to him, that the first part of his question is 843 already met. As regards the second part of the question, the English, Scottish, and Irish Departments of Agriculture are endeavouring by every means in their power to secure to allotment holders and others adequate supplies of seed.
§ 77. Mr. MacVEAGHasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he can state definitely what compensation the Government proposes to pay to Irish farmers, in view of the fact that they are not to obtain the price of £6 a ton for potatoes as, guaranteed by the Government, and how the compensation is to be arranged; whether he is aware that whilst the scarcity of food may soon become acute, part of the Irish potato crop will go bad owing to the failure of the Government to arrange for the marketing of the crop; and whether he can now state what course the rood Controller intends to pursue to ensure that the farmers will receive the price guaranteed and also to ensure that no part of the crop will be wasted?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of FOOD (Mr. Clynes)I have already indicated the lines On which compensation will be made to Irish farmers who are unable to sell their potatoes at £6 per ton, and a further announcement on this subject appears in to-day's Paper. I cannot at present state the precise measures which will be adopted in order to ensure the conservation of the potato crop, but my hon. Friend may rest assured that every effort will be made to prevent waste.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHWill compensation be paid to the dealers who bought the potatoes at £6 and are now unable to market them at that rate?
§ Mr. CLYNESCompensation applies only to the grower.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHIs it not a fact that the dealers were compelled to pay £6 a ton and now they cannot sell at that rate, and is it not equitable that compensation should be paid to them?
§ Mr. CLYNESI will require notice of that question.
§ 78. Mr. MacVEAGHasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that it is quite impossible for small farmers in Ireland to comply with the Government demand that 844 potatoes should be sold in 4-ton lots; and whether this Regulation twill be revised immediately?
§ Mr. CLYNESThe Government have no such demand as that suggested in the question.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHIs it not one of the Regulations that they must be supplied in 4-ton lots?
§ Mr. CLYNESWhen the promise, was made it was clearly stated that this subsidy would apply only to the large growers who could sell it in 4-ton lots.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHThat is my point. Is it not a fact that it will exclude the small farmers who cannot supply the 4-ton lots?
§ Mr. CLYNESMy only answer is that it was not intended to apply to the small farmers.
§ 79. Mr. MacVEAGHasked when the Food Controller will be able to issue full details regarding the action they propose to take in connection with the price of the 1918 potato crop in Ireland and elsewhere?
§ Mr. CLYNESThe question is under discussion with the several Departments of Agriculture. I cannot say when a decision will be reached.