§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that during the last few weeks the wholesale price of potatoes has risen by £12 to £15 per ton in West Suffolk; and what steps he is taking, both regionally and nationally, to prevent wide fluctuations in potato prices.
§ Mr. John MackieThe level of main crop potato prices in any season or at any time depends on the size of the home crop, the quantities currently on offer by growers, and the trade's assessment of current and future supply prospects. Although demand has been met throughout the main crop season now ending, there has been no surplus and prices have accordingly been higher than in the two previous seasons. However, they remained reasonably steady until towards the end of April. Prices normally rise towards the end of the season but severe frosts and the prospect that supplies of home-grown early potatoes would be delayed led early in May to a sharp rise in prices for the remaining supplies of main crop potatoes. The Government acted promptly on 10th May by authorising imports of old potatoes, and this has helped to check the rise in prices. Supplies of new potatoes are now becoming more plentiful.