§ Mr. Jannerasked the Minister of Agriculture an estimate of the amount of the British potato crop of 1946; how it compares with 1945; and what arrangements are being made to ensure that the large proportion of potatoes which are unlikely to keep well, in view of the season, are distributed before they go bad.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsThe figures are as follow: 311W
ESTIMATED PRODUCTION OF POTATOES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. (Thousand tons). — England and Wales. Scotland Northern Ireland. United Kingdom. 1945 … … … 7,106 1,596 1,089 9,791 1946* … … … 6,966 1,616 1,367 9,949 * Preliminary estimate based on information at 1st November. It is the responsibility of the grower to take the necessary steps to store his crop so as to minimise deterioration and to market as soon as possible potatoes which show signs of deterioration. The Ministry of Food prohibits the marketing of good keeping varieties of potatoes in the early months of the season in order to facilitate the disposal of varieties that do not keep well. Any grower who finds that his potatoes are beginning to deteriorate should communicate at once with the local officer of the Ministry of Food, who will assist him to dispose of them.