HC Deb 12 December 1957 vol 579 cc143-4W
7. Sir H. Butcher

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now indicate the tonnage of potatoes in respect of which he proposes to issue import licences.

Sir D. Eccles

The licences will not impose a limit on the tonnage which can be imported but they will be revoked when imports are no longer necessary.

8 and 9. Sir H. Butcher

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether when issuing licences for the importation of potatoes, he will impose a condition that the potatoes imported shall be household varieties, and not potatoes produced for industrial purposes;

(2) whether having regard to the fact that British growers are required to dress potatoes for household consumption to a 1½ inch riddle, he will take steps to ensure that all imported potatoes are sufficiently large to conform to similar requirements.

Sir D. Eccles

No. The choice of variety and size of potatoes to be imported is best left to the trade. In any case, I am advised that there would be serious practical difficulties in imposing the conditions suggested by my hon. Friend.

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