Captain SHAWasked the Food Controller (l) what arrangements, if any, have been made to compensate Scottish growers holding unsold stocks of potatoes on 30th June; and on what basis he proposes to award compensation;
(2) if the Government Have any prospect of disposing of the Scottish surplus of potatoes; if a market has been found for the surplus stocks; and if he can say what compensation he proposes to allow for the extra labour involved in clearing potatoes at this late season?
Mr. ROBERTSThere is every prospect of disposing of the Scottish surplus of potatoes, and I hope that the negotiations for a market will be satisfactorily concluded within the course of a few days. For potatoes delivered after 30th June, an additional payment will be made to the grower where the actual cost of dressing the potatoes exceeds the estimated cost as at 30th June. Should it be necessary to 349W compensate growers for potatoes not delivered by them, the basis will be the free on rail price less an amount representing the cost of carting the potatoes to the railway station.