§ 48. Mr. Brewisasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to secure the phased marketing of imports of early potatoes from Cyprus and other Mediterranean countries.
§ Mr. HoyThe bulk of supplies from Mediterranean countries, other than Cyprus, normally arrive before the end of May; most Cyprus potatoes arrive in June. I am sure that Mediterranean growers are aware that the later their potatoes arrive the greater the risk that they will not comply with the definition of new potatoes in the Import Licensing Regulations. Commercial considerations should also encourage growers there to send us potatoes when they are most needed.
§ Mr. Evelyn Kingasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the stock of saleable potatoes, today and on the same date last year.
§ Mr. HoyOn the basis of the Potato Marketing Board's census of stocks in Great Britain, stocks of marketable ware potatoes on 28th February, 1965, were 231W estimated at about 1,500,000 tons as compared with about 1,200,000 tons at the corresponding time last year. An estimate of stocks as at the end of March is not yet available.