§ Mr. ROSBOTHAMasked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware of the increasing gravity of the crisis relating to the disposal and marketing of the potato crop in Lancashire and other parts of the country; on what grounds he refuses issuing certificates for the exportation of potatoes of immune varieties which are grown on clean land and are for consumption; and if he is aware that every day's delay means a loss of trade to shipping and leaving the grower with the crop unsaleable?
§ Dr. ADDISONMy right hon. Friend is fully aware of the gravity of the position to which my hon. Friend refers, and greatly regrets that he does not feel it consistent with his duty to issue certificates as desired. My hon. Friend will of course understand that the refusal to issue certificates applies only to potatoes grown in a wart disease-infected area. In view of the dispersion of the cases of infection that have been known to occur, it is clear that the export of such potatoes must involve some risk of the carriage of infection. My hon. Friend will appreciate the disastrous results to the whole potato export trade of the country which might follow if disease were discovered in, or arose from, a consignment exported with a certificate from my Department.