§ 30. Mr. CLANCYasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that the Government has determined to offer no guaranteed prices for potatoes in Ireland in respect of the 1918 crop, except for the exportable surplus, although wholly different terms, involving no such limitation, have been arranged as regards the potato crop in England and Scotland; will he state the reason for this discrimination against Ireland; and whether the Food Controller will modify the Regulation made for Ireland by doing away with that discrimination, and so removing an obstacle to the production of potatoes in the largest quantity in the year 1918?
Mr. PARKERThe hon. Member is under a misapprehension in assuming that there is any discrimination against Ireland in the arrangements for the potato crop of 1918. Up to 1st November there is a free market for potatoes in the United Kingdom, subject to the possible operation of certain maximum prices. After 1st November the Food Controller will take over and distribute potatoes grown in England and Scotland. So far as Ireland is concerned, it has been decided, after consultation with the Irish Department of Agriculture, that the interests of Ireland will best be served by allowing distribution to Irish consumers to proceed on the usual lines instead of being undertaken by the Government, and that the Ministry of Food shall not intervene except to the extent of offering to buy the surplus available for export at remunerative prices.
§ 79. Mr. CLANCYasked the Chief Secretary whether, as Minister for Ireland, he has had his attention drawn to the fact that, under the Orders of the Food Controller regarding the payments to be made for the encouragement of potato cultivation in the United Kingdom in the present year, every British farmer will be paid £5 to £6 per ton for the potatoes he produces on an area equal to that which he had sown in 1916, and £6 to £7 per ton grown on an acreage in excess of that sown in 1916; whether, in consequence of this encouragement to a 441 greater production of potatoes in Great Britain and of the restriction of any payment for the production in Ireland of any but the exportable surplus produced there, the result may be that Ireland will receive no share whatever of the money paid for the encouragement of potato growing, though the taxation imposed on Ireland will supply a share of the money required for financing such an arrangement; and whether, as Minister for Ireland, he proposes to take any and, if so, what steps to protect Irish interests in this matter?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Duke)The prices of £5 to £6 10s. per ton for potatoes to be grown in the United Kingdom in 1918 are not for the whole crop, but for the part available for sale, and they do not include potatoes grown on any holding where the area under potato tillage is less than 1 acre. The price of £6 to £7 is a fixed contract price, not a minimum price. The minimum price announced for Ireland is £5 5s. to £6 5s., free alongside ship, for the exportable surplus, the potatoes to be purchased by committees on which will be represented growers and dealers. No limit is placed on the quantity to be purchased, which will be irrespective of the amount of the British crop offered to the Government. As sufficient potatoes must be kept in Ireland to meet Irish requirements, a contract which would involve the export of a portion of the crop regardless of the needs of Ireland could not be entered into. If, as the Department of Agriculture hope, farmers plant this year a largely increased acreage, granted a-favourable season, Ireland should be in a position to export a considerable quantity at an average price to the farmers which should closely approach, and may possible exceed, £5 per ton. Even in these times this must be regarded as a good price. It should be noted that the potatoes to be purchased from British growers may be sold to consumers by the Ministry of Food at a price which would not involve any loss to the Exchequer. The Food Controller has announced that the differential treatment given to Scottish potatoes reflects his desire to relieve transport difficulties by putting the highest premium on the potatoes grown nearest to the principal consuming areas It also follows the ordinary custom of the trade, and takes into account the fact that Scottish farmers obtain their seed cheaper and command a higher price for it than English farmers.