§ 55. Mr. Osborneasked the Minister of Food how many tons of potatoes were sold in the United Kingdom during the year ended 31st March, 1947; how many tons were sold for delivery abroad; and to what countries principally did they go.
§ Dr. SummerskillIn the year ended 31st March, 1947, 6,612,000 tons of ware and seed were sold in the United Kingdom and 133,659 tons were exported, principally to France, Italy, Greece, the Netherlands and Germany.
§ Mr. OsborneCan the right hon. Lady tell the House whether we made a profit or a loss on these sales abroad, and, if so, how much?
§ Dr. SummerskillThat is another question.
§ Mr. OsborneI want to know the answer, Mr. Speaker. May I give notice——
§ Mr. SpeakerSurely, if it is another question, it can be put down on the Order Paper?
§ Mr. OsborneOn a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. I merely wished to say that because the answer was so unsatisfactory, I should like to have the opportunity of raising the matter on the Motion for the Adjournment.
§ 62. Major Legge-Bourkeasked the Minister of Food if, in view of the fact that the basis whereon potato tonnages are handled by agents dates back to the period 1st June, 1938–31st May, 1939, he will now, in the light of post-war experience, institute an inquiry into the section trade adviser system of control.
§ Dr. SummerskillI think the hon. and gallant Member is under a misapprehension as to the duties of these people. The work done by agents—which involves inspection of farm stocks, negotiation of contracts and ancillary duties—is not allocated on any datum basis but is passed to the agent best situated to do the particular job. Section trade advisers have the duty in some areas to supervise the work of these agents, and in those areas and elsewhere they act as expert advisers on potato problems.
§ Major Legge-BourkeIs the right hon. Lady aware that the section trade advisers in many cases have made a good business out of this and have obtained a great deal of business which was previously in the hands of merchants whom they are now responsible for administering? Will she do something to prevent this ever-growing bureaucracy from throttling existing merchants?
§ Dr. SummerskillI think these generalisations are a little unfair to these men who have served us well for many years. If the hon. and gallant Gentleman will give me the name of a person who is abusing his powers, I will certainly make an inquiry.
§ Major Legge-BourkeIs the right hon. Lady aware that the amount of business now in the hands of section trade advisers is vastly greater than it was when this system came into operation, and that a great many merchants are being forced out of business by her bureaucracy?
§ 63. Major Legge-Bourkeasked the Minister of Food what were the separate acreage figures for the Isle of Ely and Holland areas of Royal Kidney potatoes grown this season; what was the average yield per acre; and how much of each crop remains to be disposed of.
§ Dr. SummerskillTwo hundred and seventy and 283 acres respectively. The average yield per acre was estimated to be 7.8 tons. I regret that as farmers are not required to make returns of their stocks by varieties the information required in the last part of the Question is not available.
§ Major Legge-BourkeCould it be made clear to the House exactly what the position is about these potatoes? When I had a conversation with the right 1860 hon. Lady in this House—at her suggestion—she told me there were 14,500 tons of these potatoes from this area. Last week her right hon. Friend told me there were 4,500. Now how many are there?
§ Dr. SummerskillThe hon. and gallant Gentleman knows full well that the amount changes because, as he suggested to me, the growers want to export them to Spain, and no doubt that is why there is a discrepancy in the amounts.
§ Mr. SolleyOn a point of Order, Mr. Speaker Although my right hon. Friend has not taken the point, it is one on which I would like your Ruling. The hon. and gallant Gentleman has referred to what was apparently a private conversation between himself——
§ Mr. SpeakerWhat is the point of Order?
§ Mr. SolleyThe point of Order is whether it is right for an hon. Member to make public, information which he has received during the course of a private conversation.
§ Major Legge-BourkeIs it not in Order to refer to a conversation which had been asked for by the right hon. Lady herself in this House?
§ Dr. SummerskillMay I clear up this matter, Mr. Speaker? Perhaps the House will remember that the hon. and gallant Gentleman was a little confused the week before last, and I said I would see him behind your Chair. I think we were not far away from you Mr. Speaker—and it was quite open to anybody to listen in.
§ Mr. Oliver StanleyIs there anything particularly compromising in having a conversation with the right hon. Lady?
§ Dr. SummerskillI should not like to think so.