§ 26. Mr. Brocklebank-Fowlerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has considered what steps can be taken to enable British manufacturers of potato flour to purchase home-grown potatoes at a price which enables them to compete with cheap imports from Canada; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartMy right hon. Friend is at present considering, in consultation with all the interests concerned, whether it would be possible, consistently with the potato gurantee arrangements, to make supplies available for granule manufacture at more economic prices.
§ Mr. Brocklebank-FowlerI welcome that reply. Would my hon. Friend indicate when he is likely to have completed his consultations, as this is now becoming a matter of urgency?
§ Mr. StodartI appreciate the urgency. I can only say that we shall complete them as soon as possible, but this is a slightly complex subject.
§ Mr. BodyDoes my hon. Friend agree that it might not be in the interests of 246 growers of good-quality potatoes for the produce and potato merchants to be bypassed in any future arrangement?
§ Mr. StodartThat is a point which will no doubt be taken into consideration.