§ 67. Mr. Awberyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that the Potato Marketing Board has decided to limit the amount of potatoes that a farmer can plant and that a levy of £10 is to be imposed on every acre planted above the average; and, in view of the fact that there is no certainty that the harvest will be a good one what steps he is taking to prevent a shortage of potatoes and ensure a reasonable price during the coming months.
§ Mr. GodberThe Potato Marketing Board announced last August that 1959 was to be a quota year under paragraph 84 of its scheme. I understand that the quota acreage allotted to registered producers for 1959 is greater than the acreage which they have planted in 1957 and 1958 when no quota provisions were in force. If producers plant up to their quota there will be plenty of potatoes next season unless yields are abnormally low. But if the home crop cannot keep the market supplies at reasonable prices, imports of main crop potatoes will again be permitted.
§ 68. Mr. Awberyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give directions under Section 2 (2) of the Agricultural Marketing Act, 1949, to the Potato Marketing Board to draw up a scheme to utilise the surplus potatoes during good harvests, instead of restricting the acreage to be planted, since the harvest is always dependent upon the weather and therefore uncertain.
§ Mr. GodberUnder the Potato Marketing Scheme, the regulation of the production and marketing of the potato crop in Great Britain is a matter for the Board. My right hon. Friend has no reason to think that the Board's decision to use its powers to influence the acreage grown will prevent ample production in favourable weather conditions.