§ Colonel Burtonasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the widespread dissatisfaction among the potato growers at the prices fixed under the new Order; whether he is satisfied that, in computing the rates of payment, sufficient allowance has been made for the increase in the cost of production; can he allay the apprehensions of growers as to their ability to obtain labour to gather such crops as they may sow; and whether he can give any information as to the possible lack of expansion of acreage owing to the inability of growers to obtain a remunerative price for their present stocks?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithRepresentatives of potato growers were consulted before the Order prescribing revised prices for sales of potatoes of the 1939 crop was made by the Government, and due consideration was given to the views expressed by them in regard to increased costs. The schedule of prices was designed to secure a fair and remunerative return to growers and the prescribed minima show a general advance in the prices previously realised. I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that the course of prices is being carefully watched. It is not possible at the present stage to give any indication of the acreage which will be planted to potatoes this year.
As regards labour for lifting I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the assurance given yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in his address to chairmen of County War Agricultural Executive Committees, when he said that the Government would take whatever steps were necessary to see that the crops when grown were harvested.