§ 74. Mr. J. DENNISasked the Food Controller whether Commissioners were appointed on 19th July, 1918, for the purpose of fixing prices at and from 1st November, 1918, for the whole of the potato crop in England and Wales, except those sold as and for seed; whether such Commissioners reported on the 18th October, 1918, that they had done so; and what was the price fixed for blighted and damaged potatoes respectively?
§ Mr. McCURDYThe answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. No price was allowed or fixed for damaged or blighted potatoes.
§ 75. Mr. DENNISasked the Food Controller whether he is aware that a leaflet, L.G. (Potatoes) 9, issued by the Ministry of Food instructs growers that they may sell blighted potatoes within the maximum prices to be fixed by the Commission; that if the growers could not sell the Ministry would purchase the same; and whether he will now state when and at what price the Ministry will purchase such potatoes?
§ Mr. McCURDYThe leaflet in question, which was issued prior to the report of the Potatoes (Growers'Prices) Commission, informed growers that they could sell seed or under-sized potatoes or blights at the best price obtainable subject to the operation of a maximum price, and further stated that the Ministry of Food would purchase only the surplus of those potatoes at a price to be determined by the Joint Commission. The Commission, in fact, fixed no separate price for blighted potatoes, but took the prevalence of blight into account in fixing the price to be paid for the total crop.
§ 76. Mr. DENNISasked the Food Controller whether the Potatoes (Consolidation) Order, 1918, permitting blighted potatoes to be sold at the same price as sound ware potatoes; and whether the 588 Potatoes (Consolidation) Order ((No. 2), 1918, now in force, still permits this to be done?
§ Mr. McCURDYThe answer is in the negative.
§ 77. Mr. DENNISasked the Food Controller if he will say how many factories are in existence under Government control for the manufacture of potatoes into flour, farina, etc.; where the same are situated and what is the total consumption of raw potatoes by each factory since 1st November, 1918; and whether, in view of the impossibility for these factories to absorb the large quantities of blighted potatoes, he will state to what use his Ministry proposes to put such potatoes?
§ Mr. McCURDYThere are no factories for the manufacture of potato flour under Government control. For the manufacture of farina an experimental factory has been established at King's Lynn, and three others are in course of erection at Hull, Boston, and Monikie. There are no figures available to show the consumption of raw potatoes by the factory at King's Lynn. The Ministry permit and encourage the feeding to stock of such blighted potatoes as are suitable for that purpose.
§ Mr. DENNISIs the hon. Gentleman aware that at the present moment there are many hundreds of tons of potatoes which are becoming blights in the possession of growers which growers are not permitted to move?
§ Mr. MacVEAGHAsk Barrie!