§ Sir W. Smithersasked the Minister of Food if, in view of the fact that in East Anglia about 100,000 tons of potatoes of the early crop were still in the ground on 7th September, he will make a statement as to the position of early and main crop potatoes and remove all controls.
§ Mr. StracheyFarmers have grown a record acreage of potatoes. There has been an abundant early crop, and the maincrop promises well. Growers are guaranteed a market for all sound ware potatoes and my Department will buy at the appropriate fixed price all that growers offer between 1st November, 1948, and 31st March, 1949. It would obviously be a gross breach of faith if, by removing price control, we failed to implement this guarantee when growers92W by their efforts have removed all fears of shortage for this crop year.