§ 15. Sir THOMAS INSKIPasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that consignments of German potatoes have been recently obtained for the purpose of victualling the Royal Navy; whether any or all of these consignments have been delivered in German vessels within the last three months, and particularly within the last seven days; and whether a contract has been made for any future deliveries of German potatoes?
§ Mr. AMMONAs stated in my reply of the 9th July last (OFFICIAL REPORT, column 403) to the hon. Member for Holland with Boston (Mr. Blindell), the Admiralty contracts for potatoes and other vegetables do not stipulate that supplies are to be home-grown produce and under present circumstances it would not be practicable to ensure that such a condition, if inserted, was in fact fulfilled. No contract has been made by the Admiralty for German potatoes, but it is quite possible that potatoes imported from the continent may be supplied at this time of year under Admiralty contracts at southern ports.
§ Sir T. INSKIPIs the hon. Member in a position to answer my question, whether German potatoes have been imported in a German motor vessel within the last few days at Portsmouth? That is my question, and I should like an answer.
§ Mr. AMMONI am not able to say exactly where they came from. Contracts are placed with contractors and where possible we get them from home supplies, but that cannot always be done.
§ Sir T. INSKIPCan the hon. Member say whether potatoes have come in a German motor vessel to Portsmouth?
§ Mr. MILLSIn order to comply with Admiralty regulations, will the hon. Member see that the eyes of these German potatoes are covered?
§ Sir JOSEPH LAMBMay I ask whether there is not a clause in the contract which says that they should be of British origin if possible?
§ Mr. AMMONIt is always indicated in the contract that these supplies as far as possible should be from home produce, and where this is departed from and it could be done the attention of the contractor is called to it.