§ 53. Sir W. Smithersasked the Minister of Food if, in view of the fact that there is a free market for imported potatoes, he will take off all restrictions on the sale of all classes and grades of potatoes, home-grown as well as imported.
§ 54. Sir W. Smithersasked the Minister of Food how many tons of last season's main crop potatoes, which carry his Department's guarantee of price, remain unsold.
§ Mr. WebbI do not know what quantities have been sold by private traders since the last census on 1st June, but it is estimated that farm stocks were about 300,000 at that date, and that stocks held by merchants were 49,000.
§ Sir W. Smithersasked the Minister of Food if he will give the details of his last available monthly census of potatoes received by salesmen and the amount left on hand; and if he will give, separately, stocks of old and of new potatoes.
§ Mr. WebbThe monthly returns made by potato merchants for May show they received from growers about 322,000 tons of old potatoes and 700 tons of home-grown new potatoes. On 31st May they held 49,000 tons of old and 1,000 tons of home-grown new potatoes.