§ 100. Mr. Osborneasked the Minister of Food how much of the £11 million loss by his potato and carrot division in 1948–49 was attributable to subsidies, un-saleable low-quality stocks, destruction of sound stocks, for which no market could be found, and diversion of supplies to feeding stock purposes, respectively; and if he will give these figures for potatoes and carrots separately.
§ Mr. F. WilleyThe waste of sound stocks was negligible. The loss shown in the published accounts for 1948–49 arises largely from the necessity of implementing the guarantee of the growers' market at fixed prices. Of this loss, £1,209,816 was incurred on potatoes sold for human consumption and includes the premium paid to growers for keeping for end of season use; £6,369,166 arose from selling raw potatoes for stockfeed; £4,378 was incurred on carrots sold for human consumption; and £515,122 arose from selling raw carrots for stockfeed.