HC Deb 14 December 1978 vol 960 cc899-900
11. Mr. Kimball

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when next he will meet the chairman of the Potato Marketing Board.

Mr. Bishop

My right hon Friend met the chairman of the Potato Marketing Board on Tuesday 12th December to discuss matters of mutual interest.

Mr. Kimball

I hope that the chairman of the Potato Marketing Board expressed the thanks of the potato producers for the renewed buying programme which has just been announced. Will the right hon. Gentleman say to what tonnage that is likely to apply? Did his right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture also tell the chairman, when he met him, whether he was able to give an estimate of when he thought the market price might reach the guaranteed price of £44.69 a ton?

Mr. Bishop

I can give the hon. Gentleman an assurance as to the chairman being thanked when my right hon. Friend met him. The hon. Gentleman will be aware that prices recently received by the producers were well below the guaranteed price to which he referred. It has justified the buying-in programme. If the position had continued, there would have had to be a very large deficiency payment, which would have had to be met by the taxpayer. The whole process is aimed at stabilising the market.

Mr. Corbett

Can my hon. Friend tell the House about any discussions that he has had on arrangements for the potato market in this country following the introduction of an EEC potato regime? Has he yet made a decision on a response of some positive help towards the establishment of co-operative grading stations?

Mr. Bishop

It is too early to say what form the support for next year's crop will take or how it will operate from 1979. Of course, we must be clear about the progress of the regime itself. As to the co-operative aspect, I think that my hon. Friend will be aware of my right hon. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Berwick and East Lothian (Mr. Home Robertson) about the encouragement given to the marketing of potatoes by the agricultural marketing co-operatives. I think that that has also been welcomed.

Mr. Geraint Howells

I am sure that the Minister is aware that many producers in this country are worried about the future of the Potato Marketing Board. Does he believe that the producers will have to vote, like the milk producers did last month, to secure the future of the Potato Marketing Board in this country?

Mr. Bishop

The hon. Gentleman will be aware that the negotiations for the future regime have now been under way for some time. In seeking finalisation of the negotiations, we want to bear in mind the need for self-efficiency in potatoes as far as possible, the question of confidence for the producer, and, of course, reasonable prices for the consumer.