HC Deb 30 June 1943 vol 390 c1630
63. Mr. Wedderburn

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food the quantity of potatoes sold for animal fodder during the present year and what price has been received?

Mr. Mabane

As the reply to my hon. Friend's Question is rather long and contains a number of figures, I will, with his permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Evelyn Walkden

Will it include the potatoes that were allowed to go stale in London markets last week, owing to the clumsy handling by the Ministry?

Mr. Mabane

I cannot accept the suggestion that the Ministry handles the potato situation clumsily.

Following is the statement:

Up to and including 29th May, 1943, 274,538 tons of potatoes of the 1942 crop were sold by my Department for stock-feeding, the prices for truckloads delivered to buyer's station being 7os. per ton to stockfeeders or 66s. 6d. per ton to merchants for re-sale. Between 30th May and 25th June a further 62,464 tons were sold, the prices being 20s. per ton to the grower for use on his farm, and, in respect of truckloads delivered to buyer's station, 25s. per ton to merchants for resale and 30s. per ton to stockfeeders. It is not possible to apportion the total sales between the different categories, but it is estimated that 75 per cent. was sold to merchants.