§ 89. Mr. Raikesasked the Minister of Food if he is aware that his local office at Liverpool after a casual inspection has recently sold four wagon loads of potatoes, grade B Majestics, to local farmers for fattening livestock at five guineas a ton on the ground that they were unfit for sale in the shops, and that when the sacks were emptied almost all the potatoes were seen to be fit for human consumption; and will he make investigations into this occurrence.
§ Mr. StracheyOver the whole season only two wagon loads and three part loads of potatoes have been sold in the Liverpool area for stockfeeding after having been refused by traders as unfit for human consumption by reason of frost damage and disease. There seems to be a sharp difference of opinion over the state of the potatoes which the hon. Member probably has in mind. Arrangements have now been made by which consignments refused by the wholesalers as unfit for human consumption will be sorted to see if any proportion can be salvaged.