§ Mr. Spenceasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any proposals for funding the final mopping up by the Potato Marketing Board of the previous year's stock of potatoes remaining in producers' hands; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacGregorThe Government are lending up to £7.4 million to the Potato Marketing Board to enable the board to meet the cost of disposing of 233,000 tonnes of potatoes. These are potatoes which were under contract to the board last season and which were removed from the market to help firm up prices. All registered growers were given the option of entering into pre-season contracts with the board at prices above the guaranteed price level. Other than the contract arrangements, the board will not be entering into any general buying programme for last year's stock.