§ 8. Mr. Hurdasked the Minister of Agriculture the revised estimate of the yield of the 1952 potato crop in Great Britain; how this compares with the two previous years; and what total acreage is estimated to be required to meet consumers' demands now that other foods are more freely available.
§ Sir T. DugdaleThe production of potatoes in Great Britain from the 1952 crop is estimated at 6,746,000 tons, compared with 8,236,800 in 1950 and 7,066,800 tons in 1951. I cannot give any precise estimate of the acreage of potatoes required to meet consumer demand. Production depends on other factors as well as acreage, and future demand is difficult to forecast with accuracy. I am not, however, aware of any changes either in production or consumption which would warrant a significant reduction in the acreage at the present time.