HC Deb 23 March 1959 vol 602 cc889-91
11. Mr. Dodds

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what decision has been reached in respect of the future of the £300,000 worth of Polish potatoes, the import of which was contemplated, but which are suspected of being affected with ring rot.

Mr. Godber

My right hon. Friend is still considering this matter. I have nothing to add at present to the reply I gave to the hon. Member on 9th March.

Mr. Dodds

Can the Minister deny that our officials have inspected these potatoes and have reported that they are diseased? In view of the fact that last year we had to refuse to allow Polish potatoes to come into this country because of disease, how is it that there has been in the trade agreement this £300,000 worth of potatoes. and can we be assured that if they are diseased they will not be allowed in at all?

Mr. Godber

On the last part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question, I can assure him that if they are diseased and likely to affect our stocks they will not be allowed in. I can give that assurance at once. I should explain that in a trade agreement quantities are often included which, of course, must be subject to plant health arrangements There is no form of undertaking which has been given here, and I assure the hon. Gentleman that this point was fully realised by the Polish Government when the agreement was concluded; there is no question of bad faith here. They understand the position entirely and the health position will be fully safeguarded.

12. Mr. Dodds

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the total tonnage of potatoes imported since 1st January, 1959, from Egypt found to be affected with brown rot and ring rot; and, in view of the dangers involved in this connection, what action has been and is to be taken concerning the disposal of these affected potatoes.

Mr. Godber

Brown rot but not ring rot has been found in one cargo of about 800 tons of Egyptian potatoes recently landed at Liverpool. My right hon. Friend has taken action to prevent these going through normal retail channels. There should, therefore, be no risk of disease being spread to our own crops from these consignments.

In addition, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, who is responsible for plant health regulations in Scotland, tells me that two cargoes totalling about 812 tons of Egyptian potatoes which recently arrived at Glasgow and Leith were found to be infected with bacterial rot, but not with ring rot.

Mr. Dodds

Is not brown rot banned so far as this country is concerned? The hon. Gentleman says that the potatoes are not going through the ordinary channels, but is it not a fact that these diseased potatoes have gone for potato crisps and that some of them have gone to fish and chip shops? Cannot we do better than that?

Mr. Godber

As regards the potatoes at Liverpool, I have no information that any have gone to fish and chip shops. Some may have gone to the crisp factories, but, in those circumstances, it would be done under strict restrictions through my health inspectors, who insist that the peel is dealt with and the bags are destroyed so that there can be no question of any infection.