§ 48. Air-Commodore Harveyasked the Minister of Agriculture what quantity of seed potatoes are available; and how this figure compares with the last year.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsUp to the week ending 19th April, the quantity of Scottish, Northern Ireland and Eire certified seed delivered to growers in England and 1527 Wales was 392,000 tons as compared with 441,000 at the corresponding date last year. There has been a slight delay in loading this week owing to stormy weather, but it is expected that deliveries in the three weeks following 19th April will average 22,000 tons per week, in which case the total deliveries of seed from these sources will be in excess of last season. As in previous years, supplies of certified seed potatoes will not be sufficient to meet all demands, but once-grown seed will also be available. To ensure that adequate supplies of the latter are forthcoming a compulsory ware riddle of 2¼ inches has been introduced and the grower's price for once-grown seed of the principal maincrop varieties has been increased by 10s. per ton.