§ Sir D. Hackingasked the Minister of Food whether he has any statement to make regarding the shortage of the supply of potatoes in many parts of the country.
§ Colonel LlewellinThe bad weather of the Autumn seriously interfered not only with the lifting of potatoes but also with their preparation and loading for market. The reduced flow of supplies prevented the building up of stocks in consuming centres, with the result that, owing to the recent interruption in loadings caused by severe weather, the continuing heavy demand cannot be met in all districts. I have taken all possible steps to overcome these difficulties.
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§ Mr. Kirbyasked the Minister of Food whether he can make a statement as to the steps he is taking to alleviate the acute shortage of potatoes in the Liverpool district.
§ Colonel LlewellinTwo train loads of potatoes (about 475 tons) were despatched from the Eastern Counties to Liverpool last week-end; 286 tons from Northern Ireland were discharged at Liverpool on Monday; and a further 400 tons are expected to arrive from Northern Ireland to-morrow. In addition, growers in Lancashire and Cheshire are now permitted to sell long-keeping stocks not required for delivery later in the season, and growers in Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire are given similar permits so long as the potatoes so released are marketed in Lancashire.