§ Sir J. Duncanasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that the total value of imported potatoes in the last four years was over £61 millions, of which over £20 millions worth was imported in the last six months, compared with an average for the years 1933 to 1939 of £2,250,000 worth; and what arrangements he proposes to make to ensure that farmers are able to grow sufficient potatoes for the home market under all circumstances.
§ Mr. John HareNew potatoes account for over two-thirds of the total value of potatoes imported in the last four years up to June, 1958. The bulk of these new potatoes arrive in this country before early potatoes are available in volume from the home crop.
The present acreage is sufficient in years of normal yield to meet all our requirements of main crop potatoes. The yield per acre varies so greatly from year to year that an acreage which would supply all our needs in years of low yield would involve excessive Exchequer liability in years of average or high yields.
§ Major Legge-Bourkeasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now make a statement about the financial arrangements for the new guarantee system for potatoes which he has been discussing with the producers' representatives.
§ Mr. John HareDiscussions have been held with the producers' representatives about the adjustment necessary to provide to the potato industry under the new system a guarantee which is of 209W equivalent value to the current guarantee. This adjustment is required because under the new arrangements the guarantee applies only to the quantity of potatoes required by the market for human consumption and not, as the present system does, to all potatoes of a defined size and quality. Taking into account this and other factors involved in the change of system, the Government have decided, in agreement with the producers' representatives, that a price of £12 14s. 0d. per ton under the new system is the equivalent of the present support price of £11 9s. per ton for the United Kingdom. I now propose to arrange for discussions to be held with the producers' representatives about the administrative arrangements for operating the new system.