§ 64 and 95. Mr. SCANLANasked (1) the Prime Minister if he will request the Food Controller to modify the Regulation issued by his Department limiting the guarantee to growers of potatoes of £6 per ton to the case of sales of potatoes in quantities of 4 tons, in view of the great hardship to growers on small farms who have not the capacity of sending quantities of 4 tons to market but who have increased their tillage under the orders of the Government, and in view of the guarantee of the Government given to growers for this season of £6 per ton without any suggestion of restriction as to quantites brought to market or offered for sale; (2) the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, 2201 in view of the representations made from and on behalf of small farmers in Ireland who have increased their tillage at the request of the Government, he can now modify the Order restricting the guarantee of £6 per ton for potatoes to sales of over 4 tons?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of FOOD (Mr. Clynes)I have been asked to reply to these questions. The hon. Member is under an entire misapprehension as to the terms of the Government guarantee of £6 per ton for potatoes. The first announcement, made by the Food Controller on the 9th January last, fixed prices for potatoes of the 1917 crop for delivery in quantities of not less than 6 tons f.o.r. or f.o.b. at rates representing an average of £6 per ton for the season. A later announcement, made on behalf of the Government on 2nd May by the President of the Board of Agriculture, reduced the unit of delivery covered by the guarantee to 4 tons and fixed the figure of the guarante at £6. As I have already stated, the Food. Controller is not prepared to increase the charge on the Exchequer by further extending the benefits of the guarantee.
§ Mr. SCANLANMay I ask the hon. Member if he or his chief the Food Controller is aware of the fact that in this House on 23rd February the Prime Minister promised, without any reservation or restriction, £6 per ton as a guarantee to all growers of potatoes?
§ Mr. CLYNESThe guarantee, as my answer stated, has all along been subject to the qualifications announced in my reply.
§ Mr. SCANLANMay I ask the hon. Gentleman to pay more attention to the question? I asked him whether he is aware of the fact that the Prime Minister, in this House on 23rd February, unconditionally stated that the Government were giving a guarantee of £6 per ton to all growers of potatoes?
§ Mr. CLYNESThe fact that conditions were not mentioned on the occasion named does not mean that other conditions were not made on other dates. The guarantee was given in order to stimulate the growth of potatoes on a large scale.
§ Mr. SCANLANOf course !
§ Mr. CLYNESAnd small growers were not capable of increasing their yield in order to come under the terms of the guarantee.
§ Mr. SCANLANIs the House to understand that the Food Controller and the hon. Member are intimating now a breach of the unqualified pledge given by the Prime Minister?
§ Mr. CLYNESPerhaps any further questions as to a promise made by the Prime Minister will be addressed by my hon. Friend to the Prime Minister.
§ Mr. SCANLANI did address this question to the Prime Minister, and not to the hon. Gentleman.
§ Mr. CRUMLEYHad the Vice-President of the Board of Agriculture in Ire-land any authority from the Food Controller to make the statement that small tenants might pool the quantity of potatoes required to realise 4 tons?
§ Mr. CLYNESI have not previously heard of any such thing.