14. Major WOODasked the President of the Board of Agriculture what was the total acreage of land in Lancashire scheduled under the Wart Disease (Potato) Orders as infected prior to June, 1915; and, further, what additional acreage was scheduled in Lancashire in the years June, 1915, to June, 1916, June, 1916, to June, 1917, and June, 1917, to June, 1918?
§ Sir R. WINFREYThe figures relating to the actual acreage of lands scheduled under the Wart Disease of Potatoes Orders in Lancashire cannot be readily stated. The spread of the disease is indicated by the fact that the number of individual premises scheduled has increased from 896 on the 1st June, 1915, to 2,235 on the 1st June, 1918, while during, the same period the number of infected areas declared under the Wart Disease of Potatoes (Infected Areas) Order of 1914 has increased from twenty-two to fifty-five.
§ 31. Mr. WATTasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food why his Department fixed so high a retail price 9 for new potatoes in Scotland as 2½d. per lb. during the first half of July, equal to £23 6s. 8d. per ton, in view of the fact that £6 to £6 10s. per ton. is considered a satisfactory price for late potatoes, which cost quite as much to grow and do not permit of a second crop on the land; and will he say whether his Department consulted only early potato growers in fixing these prices?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of FOOD (Mr. Clynes)I cannot usefully add anything to the answer given last Thursday to a similar question on this subject.
§ Mr. WATTDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that the most marked preference is given in Scotland to the grower of new potatoes over the grower of others?
§ Mr. CLYNESIt is not that a preference is given to the grower of new potatoes as compared with the grower of other potatoes, but that quite different circumstances apply to the new potatoes.