§ Mr. MILLSasked the Minister of Agriculture if he will consider placing an embargo on all potatoes coming from any country suffering from the potato disease known as Colorado beetle?
§ Dr. ADDISONThe Colorado beetle is known to exist in North America and in certain parts of France. The importation of potatoes from the Dominion of Canada and the United States of America is already prohibited, and importation from France is restricted to potatoes officially certified as having been grown more than 40 kilometres from any place where the beetle exists or has existed. On the evidence available at the present time, my right hon. Friend would not feel justified in placing further restrictions under the Destructive Insects and Pests Acts on the entry of French potatoes.
Mr. ALLENasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has received a copy of the resolution passed at a mass meeting of farmers at Ormskirk on Saturday, 1st February, stating that the meeting 1601W was strongly of the opinion that an embargo should be put on all potatoes being imported from France on account of the danger of bringing the Colorado beetle into the potato growing areas of this country; and whether he has any statement to make on this matter?
§ Dr. ADDISONMy right hon. Friend has received a copy of the resolution to which the hon. Member refers. The importation of potatoes from France is restricted to those officially certified as having been grown more than 40 kilometres from any place where the beetle exists or has existed. On the evidence available at the present time, my right hon. Friend would not feel justified in placing further restrictions under the Destructive Insects and Pests Acts on the entry of French potatoes.
Year. Regular Workers. Casual Workers. Total. Men and Boys. Women and Girls. Men and Boys. Women and Girls. Thous. Thous. Thous. Thous. Thous. 1925 … … … 579 60 115 49 803 1929 … … … 577 67 91 35 770 My right hon. Friend regrets that for various reasons which are set out in Chapter VIII of the Report on the Agricultural Output of England and Wales, 1925, it is not possible to supply reasonably comparable data for pre-War years.