§ 31. Mr. PARKINSONasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is prepared to remove the embargo against the import of Canadian potatoes, in view of the fact that the shortness of supplies in Great Britain is forcing up prices to the consumer while in Canada there is a surplus which could be sold in this country at prices below those now prevailing?
§ The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Sir John Gilmour)The embargo on imports of potatoes from countries where the Colorado beetle is prevalent is imposed solely for sanitary reasons, and its enforcement cannot be made to depend upon seasonal fluctuations of supplies.
§ Mr. ROSBOTHAMIs the Minister satisfied that there are plentiful supplies of potatoes on the British market at the present time?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI have-not heard of any undue shortage.
§ 33. Mr. PARKINSONasked the Minister of Agriculture what was the market price per cwt. of new Spanish potatoes on 31st March, 1931, and on 31st March, 1932; what was the amount of the duty on the later date; and what was the effect on the retail price?
§ Sir J. GILMOURAccording to the weekly returns furnished by the Ministry's market reporters, the average prices per cwt. of new Spanish potatoes for the week ended 1st April, 1931, for first and second quality, were 21s. 1d. and 19s. 7d. respectively, and for the week ended 30th March, 1932, 25s. 5d. and 23s. 6d. The duty on imported new potatoes during the period 1st to 31st March, 1932, was 9s. 4d. per cwt., but I am unable to estimate the effect of the duty on wholesale or retail prices.