§ 38. Sir Ronald Rossasked the Minister of Food how the present price of potatoes in Northern Ireland compares with the prices of £10 13s. 6d. and £11 8s. 6d. per ton, f.o.b. Eire port at which he has contracted for 50,000 tons from Eire.
§ Mr. StracheyComparable f.o.b. prices for Northern Ireland potatoes are £10 5s. and £11 3s. 4d. per ton, but the average price to the grower in Northern Ireland is higher than in Eire because of the acreage payment and the lower costs between farm and port.
§ Sir R. RossIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that he can buy potatoes in Northern Ireland at £7 15s. per ton? Further, if he has to waste £200,000 of the taxpayers' money, is it not better to waste it inside the United Kingdom rather than outside?
§ Mr. StracheyI cannot agree with either of the implications of the hon. Member.