§ 42. Mr. Sparksasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why the import of potatoes has been stopped; and what steps he is taking to secure an adequate supply for home consumption.
Mr. AmoryI understand from my right hon. Friend the President of the 775 Board of Trade that the open general licence issued in June of this year had been intended to permit the import from certain countries without specific licence of new potatoes and sweet potatoes only. It was found however that the terms of the open general licence were not sufficiently precise to prevent other potatoes also being imported under that licence. Accordingly, my right hon. Friend has amended the licence in order to clarify the position. In regard to the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon Member for Erith and Crayford (Mr. Dodds) on 1st November last.
§ Mr. SparksWill the Minister say in plain English whether it is now the policy of the Government to allow potato imports into this country, in view of the increasing shortage here, the fact that retail prices of potatoes are higher than they were last year and that they are likely to go higher unless we are permitted to import supplies?
Mr. AmoryI do not dissent from what the hon. Gentleman has said. In the reply which I quoted I made it clear that we are now estimating what this year's crop will produce, and if, as seems likely, it will be inadequate, we shall license imports.
44. Mr. B. Harrisonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what investigations have been undertaken by his research department into the square cluster method of planting potatoes which is used in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; and if he will take steps to make the results of these investigations available to British growers.
Mr. AmoryInvestigations on the spacing of potato tubers which have been carried out in this country suggest that under our conditions there would be no gain from the adoption of the square cluster method of planting. Arrangements are, however, being made for trials of this method in 1956, and the results will be published in due course.
§ 54. Mr. Sorensenasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what varieties of potatoes he anticipates will be scarce during the next six months; and what steps are being taken to ensure an adequate supply of potatoes during this period.
Mr. AmoryThere are indications of a shortage of potatoes, not confined to particular varieties; as to the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Erith and Crayford (Mr. Dodds) on 1st November.
§ Mr. SorensenIs the Minister aware that, by the first part of his Answer, he implicitly admits that there may be a shortage of patotoes in the coming months? As this is a staple foodstuff, what is he doing to see that there will be adequate supplies?
Mr. AmoryI said just now that directly I am satisfied that there will be a shortage action will be taken, if necessary, to license imports. I have also said that the indication so far is that a shortage is likely. From that reply, I think that the hon. Member can draw his own conclusions.