32. Mr. R. C. Mitchellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received concerning the increase in the price of potatoes during the first week in June; and what replies he has sent.
§ Mr. HoyFour hon. Members have written on behalf of constituents, one of them representing a fish frier's organisation. In addition, officials have dealt with eight written communications; of these, two were from fish friers' organisations, one from a wholesale potato 421 merchant and the others from members of the general public.
The replies have said that immediately after the spring bank holiday markets tended to be under-supplied and this led to a sharp rise in price. They have explained the main reasons for the under-supply; that the very high prices were short lived; and that by the end of the first week in June farm-gate prices had fallen substantially as adequate supplies of old potatoes were available to meet the limited demand.
Mr. MitchellIs my right hon. Friend aware that sharp increases in price occurred during that week and were extremely disconcerting to the housewife? Is it not possible so to improve our marketing techniques that these very sharp increases in price do not occur?
§ Mr. HoyIndeed. We do not like them any more than anybody else. In the week in question there were difficulties because we had a short working week following the bank holiday. There was certainly a diversion of farm labour to cultivation because of the wet spring. It should also be added that the Potato Marketing Board, in consultation with our officials, took prompt action to release most of the reserve stocks for human consumption.