HL Deb 25 March 1936 vol 100 cc283-4WA
THE EAEL OF TANKERVILLE

asked His Majesty's Government whether arising out of the Bishop of Winchester's question, the House may be informed whether special terms for the supply of potatoes in the distressed areas have been in successful operation for some time, and whether there is any information as to the methods by which such schemes, and the proposal of the Bishop of Winchester, might be financed.

THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION (EARL DE LA WARR)

In February and March, 1935, when there was a considerable surplus of home grown potatoes, the Potato Marketing Board carried out an experiment at Bishop Auckland, Co. Durham, to test the effect on demand of reduced prices under arrangements which eliminated certain distributive services. Potatoes were made available, at a central depot, to unemployed registered at the local employment exchange and those in receipt of public assistance, at 4d. per stone, at a time when the normal retail price was about 7d. per stone. The experiment lasted for eight weeks, and an account of it, with a summary of the results, and the conclusions which the Board drew from them, was published in a report subsequently issued by the Board, a copy of which I am sending to the noble Lord. I am not aware of any arrangements now in operation for the supply of potatoes on special terms in the distressed areas. It is understood that the Potato Board do not propose to conduct a similar experiment this year, when the home crop is in short supply.

The cost of the Bishop Auckland experiment, which was undertaken by, and on the initiative of the Potato Marketing Board, was defrayed from the Board's own funds. In the case of the scheme for the supply of cheap milk to school children, the extension of which was urged by the Bishop of Winchester, the producers, that is, the Milk Marketing Boards, the distributors and the State, all contribute to enable the price to be reduced. The question whether the Government should co-operate in further schemes for increasing milk consumption will be carefully considered as part of the general review of milk policy which will take place when the report of the Milk Reorganisation Commission is available.

The House adjourned at ten minutes before seven o'clock.