§ 49. Mr. Gerald Williamsasked the Minister of Agriculture if he will give an assurance that adequate supplies of potash fertiliser will be available to farmers for the 1949 season.
§ Mr. G. BrownI would refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for East Norfolk (Brigadier Medlicott) on 8th November.
§ Mr. WilliamsDoes the Parliamentary Secretary remember that a year ago I drew attention to the possibility of a shortage of potash during the 1948 season, and he assured me that there would be none; but is it not a fact that many farmers had difficulty in getting it this year?
§ Mr. BrownI well remember the hon. Gentleman's gloomy prognostications, and the answer is that he is very far out. In the year 1947–48—the crop year—the supplies of potash were 180,000 tons, which was 60,000 tons more than in the previous year.