Mr. PRICEasked the Minister of Agriculture what was the quantity of potatoes imported in the months of October, November, and December, 1931, and January, 1932, the countries of origin, and the average wholesale price; and if he will furnish figures of the estimated stock of British-grown potatoes?
§ Sir J. GILMOURTotal imports of potatoes into the United Kingdom during the months October, 1931, to January, 1932, and the countries of consignment are as shown in the following table:
Countries whence consigned and Total Imports during four months, October, 1931, to January, 1932.
Tons. Germany … … 161,259 Netherlands … … 127,138 France … … 3,301 Spain … … 1 Canary Islands … … 95 Channel Islands … … 21 Other Countries … … 174,884 Total … … 466,699 The average wholesale price of first quality imported maincrop potatoes has ranged from about 120s. per ton in October, 1931, to about 175s. per ton in January, 1932. Estimates of the stocks of potatoes in Great Britain are not available, but according to returns furnished 1293W by the Ministry's crop reporters, it was estimated that on 1st January, 1932, stocks of potatoes on farms in England and Wales amounted to about 1,000,000 tons.