§ Mr. Moynihanasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the market support prices for potatoes to apply in Northern Ireland for the 1987–88 crop year beginning on 1 July have been determined.
§ Mr. ViggersFollowing consultation with the Ulster Farmers Union it has been decided that there should be no change for the 1987–88 crop to the level of market support that applied in 1986–87. The maximum target price for the 1987–88 season will remain at £46 per tonne. The target area for Northern Ireland planting is 12,750 hectares and the ceiling for any support operations is 60,000 tonnes.
I believe these levels will provide growers with a reasonable degree of support should it be necessary to introduce potato market support measures. I would hope that support measures will, however, not be necessary and I look to producers to make a positive contribution to market equilibrium by avoiding over-planting.