§ 26. Miss Burtonasked the Minister of Food if he is aware that sales of potatoes are falling off because of the inferior quality and poor grading; and what steps he proposes to take to deal with the position.
Dr. HillSales in January and February were as high as a year ago. In general, quality and grading are good, though complaints are sometimes received and in all cases investigated.
§ Miss BurtonI am more up to date than the hon. Gentleman, obviously. We are now in March. Is the Minister aware that sales of potatoes have been falling off for this reason? Secondly, will he answer the question that he avoided before: why are the Government determined to do nothing about the cost of distribution? I was not speaking about price control.
Dr. HillI confined my answer to the subject of the Question—potatoes. I am glad that the hon. Lady has statistics available to her which have not yet been prepared.
§ Miss BurtonOn the matter of statistics, is the hon. Gentleman aware that mine come from the housewives, and are much better than ordinary statistics. Secondly, if the hon. Gentleman asks me to confine my remarks to the Question, will he apply that to himself on Questions in future?
§ Major H. Legge-BourkeWill my hon. Friend bear in mind that if he does not soon move some of the main crop of potatoes from the Isle of Ely, the quality of potatoes for human consumption will deteriorate very rapidly, and some of them will not even be fit for stock feeding?