§ Mr. Morganasked the Minister of Agriculture whether the Potato Marketing Board has made any estimate of the present cost of transporting a standard quantity of potatoes for a standard distance from producing areas to distributing centres; and whether any information is available as to the proportion of such cost which is represented by the taxation of motor vehicles involved and the fuel they use?
§ Mr. W. S. Morrison:The reply to the first part of the question is, I understand, in the negative, and the second part does not therefore arise.
§ Mr. Porrittasked the Minister of Agriculture whether the wholesale and retail interests in the potato trade, together with the fish friers, were consulted by the Potato Marketing Board before the drafting of the amendments now proposed to the potato marketing scheme; and what 1057W arrangements will be made to ensure that all interested parties are properly consulted before these amendments are approved?
§ Mr. W. S. Morrison:I understand that consultations with regard to the proposed amendments to the Potato Marketing Scheme were conducted with wholesale distributors through their representative organisation, and with retail distributors, including fish friers, through the medium of the board's advisory committee of retailers. The amendments having been formally submitted by the board to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and myself, notice was published on 25th March last stating that any objections and representations with respect to the amendments should be lodged not later than 7th May. The Agricultural Marketing Act, 1931, makes provision for the holding of a public inquiry, if necessary, into such objections.
§ Mr. Porrittasked the Minister of Agriculture under what authority the Potato Marketing Board buy and sell surplus potatoes at the present time; whether he is aware of the complaints in the trade that these powers have been used to speculate in the buying and selling of potatoes which are not necessarily surplus with a view to forcing up the prices; and whether he can take any steps to discourage this practice?
§ Mr. W. S. Morrison:I would refer my hon. Friend to recent replies on this subject, and in particular to the replies given to my hon. Friends the Members for Cardiff, South (Captain A. Evans), St. Pancras, South-West (Sir G. Mitcheson) and Manchester, Moss Side (Mr. W. R. Duckworth) on the 11th, 13th and 14th April respectively.