HC Deb 20 July 1978 vol 954 cc773-4
7. Mr. Edwin Wainwright

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what he attributes the rise in the price of potatoes in spite of the fact that the amount of tons of potatoes produced in the United Kingdom during this past 12 months is the highest for three years.

Mr. Bishop

In each of the first 10 months of the present marketing year, the average retail price of potatoes has been lower than in the equivalent period of both the previous two years. Although new potatoes were, as usual, high-priced when they first became available, the market is now very well supplied.

Mr. Wainwright

In spite of what my right hon. Friend said, is he not aware that in February of this year the Potato Marketing Board purchased 546,000 tons of potatoes and is now offering them at £70 a ton retail, having purchased them for £35 a ton from the farms? When will the Minister have some control over the Potato Marketing Board?

Moreover, is it not true that we are importing frozen chips and that it is, therefore, disgraceful if potatoes are being held back and allowed to deteriorate in the ground and the Minister does nothing?

Mr. Bishop

If my hon. Friend looks at the figures, he will see that, despite his claims, from August last until March of this year the average retail price of potatoes was less than half that of 1977. Since then the price has remained con- siderably lower. My hon. Friend will also be aware that the need to give producers the confidence to grow potatoes is very important, and the buying-in programme and the guarantee are factors in that situation.

Mr. Welsh

How much of the increase in potato production was in seed potatoes as opposed to ware potatoes? Is the Minister aware of the importance of the seed potato industry and its potential as a valuable export winner? What steps is he taking to increase markets worldwide for our seed potato industry?

Mr. Bishop

As the hon. Member says, the superiority of our seed potato industry is well known, especially the Scottish varieties. These are factors which are borne in mind.

Mr. Jopling

Does not the Minister of State agree that, in spite of the efforts of the Potato Marketing Board, this year has been a disastrous season for growers, who have received a return of about £2 per ton below the guaranteed price? Does that not show that, even with the efforts of the board, it has been a simply hopeless year and that without the board's efforts farmers would have lost a great deal more money?

Mr. Bishop

The hon. Gentleman should be fair and take into account the situation in which potatoes are being produced this year and were produced last year in the absence of a potato regime. We have been pressing the Community for at least a couple of years to try to get the matter settled. I think it is commendable that, when a ban on imports has been questioned by the European Court, we gave a guarantee to the producers last year and this year which has been important for their prospects.