28. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can assure the House that the operations of the Potato Marketing Board are satisfactory in all respects, having regard to the necessity of an increased supply of potatoes for storage and consumption in the event of war?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonThe home potato crop is normally sufficient to meet nearly the whole of the country's requirements, and any increase designed to meet a possible future emergency would tend to undermine the comparative stability that has been enjoyed by the industry since the introduction of the Potato Marketing Scheme and the complementary control of imports.
Mr. De la BèreWill the Government consider encouraging an increased acreage of potatoes with a view to setting up a factory for feeding stuffs for pigs, which would be of some use in the home-produced feeding stuffs supply?
§ Mr. MorrisonThat is another question. The hon. Member's question on the Order Paper relates to the possibility of emergency, and I am satisfied that the acreage could be rapidly and substantially increased.
Mr. AlexanderIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that during last winter the prices of potatoes were abnormally high to the home consumer while imports continued to be restricted? Is he satisfied in the circumstances that it is right to make the growing of further potatoes a crime?
§ Mr. MorrisonIt is not a crime. The basic acreage of registered producers is quite sufficient in a normal yield to satisfy the whole of the home requirements.
§ Mr. MorrisonI will not quarrel with the right hon. Gentleman about words. I prefer to describe it more accurately as a levy.