§ Mr. Dempseyasked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the concern of housewives over the rising prices of potatoes and other vegetable foodstuffs; what steps he proposes to take in order to reverse 223W this trend; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HoyAs to the first part of the Question:
In the first week in November the average retail price of potatoes was lower than in the corresponding week in the two preceding years. The average retail prices for other fresh vegetables during this week was in line with that in the corresponding week in the two preceding years.
Price variations both up and down in the last two months have been small and have followed the normal seasonal pattern.
The second and third parts of the Question do not arise.