§ Miss WiddecombeTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the market support prices for474W potatoes to apply in Northern Ireland for the 1988–89 crop year beginning on 1 July have been determined; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ViggersYes, following consultation with the Ulster Farmers Union it has been decided that the support price for the 1988 ware potato crop should remain at the level which applied to the 1987 crop, namely £46 per tonne. Any support operation will be limited to a maximum of 60,000 tonnes and as previously announced the target area for Northern Ireland planting in 1988 is 12,500 hectares.
I believe that these arrangements will provide growers with a reasonable degree of assistance should it be necessary to introduce potato market support measures. I would, however, hope that support measures will not be necessary and I look to producers to make a positive contribution to market equilibrium by avoiding over-planting.