§ 59. Mr. LENNOX-BOYDasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can make any statement on the scheme for supplying potatoes at special prices for the unemployed?
§ Mr. ELLIOTA report was published recently by the Potato Marketing Board on the experiment they carried out in the distribution of potatoes at specially low prices to the unemployed at Bishop Auckland. I do not think there is anything I can usefully add to the very interesting information contained in this report, a copy of which I am sending to my hon. Friend. Future policy will no doubt be carefully considered by the Board in the light of the results of this experiment and of available supplies of potatoes.
§ Mr. T. JOHNSTONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this experiment succeeded in increasing the demand for potatoes by over 90 per cent., and that the Potato Marketing Board promised to develop the scheme further in Wales and other distressed areas, and can he say why these extensions have been dropped?
§ Mr. ELLIOTI could not answer those questions off-hand. If the right hon. Gentleman will put down a question, I will do my best to give him the information.