§ 50. Sir W. Smithersasked the Minister of Food if he is aware that many tons of potatoes are left on the hands of Cornish and Scottish farmers; and, in view of the potato shortage in London last month, if he will remove controls and allow the law of supply and demand to operate.
§ Dr. Edith SummerskillNo. The quantity of early potatoes remaining unsold in Cornwall is not great and there is nothing in the machinery of control which prevents their sale. In Scotland all surplus old potatoes have been cleared. All the potatoes available from both sources last month were used to relieve the temporary shortage in London and I cannot agree that the removal of controls at that time would have increased supplies.