§ Mr. D. J. Williamsasked the Minister of Food if he is aware that there is often an acute shortage of potatoes, green vegetables and fruit in the mining villages of South Wales; and if he will take steps to ensure that these areas receive an equitable share of the available supplies of these essential commodities.
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§ Mr. StracheyOwing to the recent severe weather, potatoes and green vegetables have been scarce everywhere. Everything possible is being done to share out fairly such supplies of potatoes as can be lifted but the distribution of green vegetables is not controlled. To ease the position generally, arrangements have been made to allow cauliflower, broccoli, cabbages and leeks to be imported without licence from the Continent and North Africa. In accordance with the policy which I announced on the 18th November last, South Wales has already received during the past six months a larger share of oranges than the Midlands or the South and will receive a further allocation of imported apples from shipments due to arrive on the 12th and 25th March.