§ 56. Mr. D. G. SOMERVILLEasked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the present high price of potatoes; whether he is satisfied that the normal cultivation of this article is sufficient to meet popular requirements at popular prices; and, if not, whether he will stimulate cultivation in this direction?
§ Mr. BUXTONThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Given an average yield per acre, the area planted last year would have provided sufficient potatoes to feed the country and to keep prices fairly stable. But the yield per acre was poor with the result that supplies have become low and prices have risen to a high level.
§ Commander BELLAIRSIs it the case that large areas of land have gone out of 1830 cultivation as a result of the huge imports last year?
§ Mr. BUXTONIn 1923 the acreage under potatoes in Great Britain was 603,000 acres, and the yield per acre was 5.9 tons, or one-third of a ton below the average of the previous 10 years, but the acreage will show a good figure this year.
§ Mr. HOPE SIMPSONIs it not a fact that the acreage fell by 100,000 acres between 1922 and 1923?
§ Mr. BUXTONI think my hon. Friend is correct, but the figure will rise this year.