§ Mr. Freudasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied that the import of 80,000 tonnes of Egyptian early King Edward potatoes will not have an adverse effect on the British industry; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Buchanan-Smith80,000 tonnes of new potatoes from Egypt would be compatible with our normal pattern of imports and would represent a 32 per cent. reduction of last year's level of 117,000 tonnes which created problems on our market. I welcome the indications of restraint by the Egyptian exporters, which should result in better financial returns for both Egyptian and United Kingdom producers.
§ Mr. Freudasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the effect of unrestricted imports of foreign potatoes on the European Economic Community scheme to encourage investment in long term potato storage depots; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThere is both demand for good quality potatoes and for imported early potatoes. It should be possible for producers to continue to obtain good returns for higher quality maincrop potatoes released in good condition from environmentally controlled stores. Investment in these storage facilities, with the financial assistance available under Regulation (EEC) No. 355/77, continues therefore to be in the industry's long term interests.
§ Mr. Freudasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his Department's forecast of imported potato tonnage in each of the first five months of 1981.
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§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithImport levels depend on a variety of factors including the growing conditions in the exporting countries. Precise forecasts of our 1981 imports cannot, therefore, yet be made.