§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONasked the Food Controller if he is aware that in the North of Scotland stocks of potatoes of the 1918 crop taken over by the Government have not yet been moved from the farms, and that in Morayshire about 6,000 tons are lying in the pits; and whether it is proposed to clear these stocks before all available labour is required in connection with spring work on the farms?
§ Mr. McCURDYUnder the arrangement made by the Food Controller with the Board of Agriculture for Scotland and the various Scottish agricultural associations, Scottish growers are free to market their potatoes anywhere in Scotland, the exportable surplus being purchased by the Food Controller. Large quantities of potatoes are being shipped from Scotland, and the whole of the surplus will be taken by the Ministry of Food in due course. I may add that it is the practice of the growers in the North of Scotland to keep back a large proportion of their potato stocks until the later months of the season. Complaints were received last winter from Scottish growers that their potatoes were not being moved quickly, but by the middle of May the surplus had disappeared and it was necessary to import potatoes into Scotland.