§ Lieutenant-Colonel M'LEANasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board 1483W of Agriculture if he is aware that on 1st November last the Lindsey Division of Lincolnshire had in stock 180,000 tons of potatoes and on 1st February of this year 28,000 tons only had been taken over by the Government; and if immediate action can be taken in the matter to relieve farmers of their stock?
§ Mr. McCURDYI have been asked to reply. It was estimated that the stocks of potatoes in the Lindsey Division on the 1st December, 1918, were 182,538 tons. Of this quantity 12,295 tons were moved during December and 18,561 tons during January. Potatoes in this and other districts are being lifted as rapidly as possible. I may add, that the Food Controller has made large contracts for the export of potatoes to the continent of Europe, which will assist materially in the rapid removal of the present stocks.