§ 53. Mr. Hurdasked the Minister of Agriculture to what extent the supplies of potash fertilisers for use this spring will fall short of the permits already issued to farmers.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsIt is expected that by the end of March the total quantity of potash that will have been delivered this season for use by farmers in the United Kingdom may be as much as 25 per cent. less than would be required to meet permits. Separate figures for autumn and spring applications of potash are not available.
§ Mr. HurdDoes not the Minister regard this as a very serious matter, and is he aware that it is the first time it has ever happened that fertiliser permits have not been met?
§ Mr. WilliamsSurely, the hon. Member is aware that the weather has not been too good for deliveries, and that since potash is mainly drawn from Spain, France, Palestine, the Russian zone of Germany, and Chile, we can only distribute what they are prepared to send to us and what weather conditions permit being sent.
§ Mr. BossomIs it not a fact that potash is necessary in this country irrespective of the bad weather?
§ Mr. WilliamsCertainly. The potash is not here, or it would be distributed among the farmers. I am afraid that the hon. Member, and perhaps some of his hon. Friends, must have misunderstood what I said—that the potash is not here because it could not be shipped owing to the very bad weather.
§ Sir Frank SandersonIs the Minister aware that fertiliser manufacturers were advised that the potash would not be forthcoming before the bad weather set in? Does he appreciate that the shortage of potash will make it quite impossible for the fertiliser manufacturers to meet their contracts this season?
§ Mr. WilliamsYes, Sir, but I am equally aware of the fact that we can only distribute the quantities of potash which we can import from the various countries mentioned.
§ Captain CrookshankAre we to understand that the weather was simultaneously bad in all these countries from Chile to Palestine, and all of Europe as well? Surely, there must be some other explanation, if the right hon. Gentleman would give it.
§ Mr. WilliamsI have not been to Spain or Chile, or the Russian zone of Germany, or any other of those countries.
§ Mr. R. S. HudsonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that during the war we were able to import all the supplies needed, and we never failed to supply potash sufficient to meet the permits, although in those days we had to take potash right round the Cape?
§ Mr. WilliamsNobody is better aware than the right hon. Gentleman that, throughout the war, we did not import as much potash as we required. What we were able to do with the limited supplies made available to us was to distribute them as equitably as possible.
§ Mr. MedlicottIs not the Minister aware of the importance of potash to the soil of East Anglia, and that some distributors are only able to meet half of the farmers requirements, and will he make a special effort to meet the supply needs of this country?
§ Mr. HurdI beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible date.