§ 83. Major Legge-Bourkeasked the President of the Board of Trade why his Department have prevented the export of 70,000 tons of Royal Kidney potatoes to Spain and have permitted agricultural machinery to be exported in their place, despite the potatoes being a crop customarily sent to Spain each year, and despite the home demands for machinery still being very great.
§ Mr. BottomleyIt is not the case that the Board of Trade prevented the export of 70,000 tons of potatoes of any variety to Spain. Whilst the second part of the Question does not, therefore, arise, I should like to make it clear that I attach importance to developing our exports of agricultural machinery, with due regard, of course, to the needs of our own farmers.