§ 42. Mr. Crouchasked the Minister of Food if he can give an estimate as to the quantity of potatoes that will be sold for stock feeding this year; and how this compares with the actual sales for the previous year.
Dr. HillMy Department sold 404,721 tons from the 1952 crop for stock feeding. The surplus from the 1953 crop seems likely to be a good deal larger, but I cannot yet give a firm estimate.
§ Mr. CrouchMay I ask my hon. Friend if the large anticipated surplus is due to the fact that there has been a much higher standard of husbandry by the potato producers?
§ Mr. FernyhoughCan the hon. Gentleman say what was the price per ton at which he acquired the stocks and what was the price at which he sold them for feedingstuffs?
Dr. HillIf the hon. Gentleman will put that Question down, I shall be glad to give what is a rather complicated schedule of prices.
§ Lieut.-Colonel Bromley-DavenportIs my hon. Friend aware of how delighted we on these back benches are at the excellent and tolerant manner in which he has answered the asinine questions from the benches opposite this afternoon?
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the House would be even more delighted if he could now give us a specific assurance that he will not ask the House to agree to any more Supplementary Estimates in respect of potatoes or any other commodity between now and the end of the current financial year?