§ 15. Mr. G. M. Thomsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what 448 steps he is taking to ensure adequate supplies of potatoes and meat at reasonable prices.
§ Mr. LeburnThe current shortage and high prices of potatoes are due to the lateness of the new crop and the general shortage of supplies from last year's main crop throughout Europe. The situation should improve considerably by the end of June. Adequate supplies of meat are available; so far as prices are concerned, I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 28th May and 4th June to the hon. Members for Goole (Mr. Jeger) and Erith and Crayford (Mr. Dodds) respectively.
§ Mr. ThomsonIs the Minister aware that the Answers of the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on those occasions were as unsatisfactory as his own? Is he aware that the prices of groceries, potatoes and meat have risen in Scotland by as much as 4s. in the £ over the last nine months? Is he aware that the Scottish housewives are fed up to the teeth with the Government, whose only contribution to the cost of living appears to be to aggravate it by putting up house rents?
§ Mr. LeburnI consider that I have dealt adequately with the question of potatoes, and in regard to meat I cannot add to what has been said by my right hon. Friend.
§ Sir J. DuncanWhen the hon. Gentleman considers prices in Scotland, will he compare them with the prices in Russia, which have recently been announced by Mr. Khrushchev?
§ Mr. StracheyHas the Minister received any representations from the Dundee Housewives' Association on this matter?
§ Mr. LeburnNo, Sir.