§ 63. Lieut.-Colonel Liptonasked the Minister of Food what steps are being taken to remedy the present shortage of potatoes in London.
§ 65. Mr. Prescottasked the Minister of Food what was the cause of the recent potato famine in London; and what steps he is taking to prevent its recurrence.
§ Mr. StracheyThe potato shortage in London has been due to damage to the old crop and the late arrival of the new crop, both caused by last spring's great frost. As a matter of fact the shortage has been far less severe than was confidently predicted in the spring, and has actually been of shorter duration than last year. London will get almost its normal supplies towards the end of this week and the new crop should be coming in in volume next week.
§ 66. Mr. Hollisasked the Minister of Food what reply he made to a communication from the Fruit and Vegetable Trade Association of Importers calling attention to a coming shortage of potatoes.
§ Mr. StracheyI have received no recent communication from this association on the shortage of potatoes, but they sent a message on 7th May to me and also to the Press suggesting that the price limit for imported new potatoes should be increased and the period of importation extended. I issued an announcement to the Press on 10th May extending the period of importation to 31st May, and also increasing the prices and on 19th May the date was further extended to 15th June. I did not, however, see my way to permit the importation of potatoes at prices beyond the reach of most housewives. I think that, even had I done so, we should not54W have received appreciably more potatoes than we did, and any small additional supply would have been high price luxuries of no appreciable help at all to the housewife in meeting the end of season shortage.