HC Deb 26 February 1976 vol 906 cc292-3W
22. Mr. Shepherd

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimates he has made for the cost of growing an acre of potatoes.

Mr. Bishop

Production costs vary considerably according to location, type of soil, farming techniques and many other factors and it is not the practice of my Department to publish estimates of potato production costs.

27. Mr. Hooley

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to ensure that the farm price review contains a proportionate reduction in income to farmers to offset the profits made on potatoes which have occurred in the past few months.

Mr. Peart

The Government take all relevant considerations into account in reaching their decisions on 1976–77 agricultural support.

33. Mr. Moonman

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will report on his consultations with other EEC Ministers on potato prices.

Mr. Bishop

The current potato shortage in Northern Europe, and particularly in the United Kingdom, has led both the EEC and national governments to take steps to try to alleviate the situation. Consultations with other EEC Ministers have recently resulted in agreement on a United Kingdom initiative to suspend the common customs tariff until 28th March and a decision, effective from 19th February, to impose a tax on exports of potatoes—other than certified seed potatoes—to third countries.

Mr. Charles Morrison

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what effect he expects high seed potato prices will have on the planting of potatoes and on the prices of new crop potatoes.

Mr. Bishop

Although the average price of seed potatoes is very high at present many growers will have contracted for seed earlier in the season when prices were substantially lower, and it has to be remembered that, despite a reduction in yield, the 1975 crop has provided a high average return to growers. It is too early to make any estimates about the 1976 crop.