§ 51. Sir Waldron Smithersasked the Minister of Food if he is aware that the vegetable distributive trade is facing an acute shortage of potatoes and carrots; how many tons of potatoes and carrots have been bought by his Department this year; and what has happened to them.
§ Dr. SummerskillThere is no reason for the trade to be short. My Department bought approximately 2,200,000 tons of 430 potatoes and 135,000 tons of carrots, most of which have been processed or sold for stockfeeding; but we shall be happy to receive orders for the remaining 700,000 tons of potatoes and 7,000 tons, of carrots.
§ Sir W. SmithersIs the right hon. Lady aware that last week a big merchant in Covent Garden telephoned all over the country but could get no carrots? Is that not due to interference by the Ministry of Food in the law of supply and demand, and is it not a fact that the Ministry of Food have cornered the carrots?
§ Dr. SummerskillThe mistake was that he did not telephone Whitehall 4363.
§ 54. Sir W. Smithersasked the Minister of Food why he is offering producers of potatoes 10s. a ton to keep potatoes till June, and a further 10s. a ton to keep them till July.
§ Dr. SummerskillBecause potatoes kept in clamp until late in the season often lose considerable weight and more labour is needed to remove the growth shoots. Farmers must be paid for this.
§ Sir W. SmithersHow many more times have I to tell the right hon. Lady and her right hon. Friend that if she breaks the law of supply and demand that law will break her and her Party and the country?