HC Deb 05 April 1974 vol 871 cc446-7W
Mr. Body

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases of wart disease affecting King Edward potatoes in England and Wales were known to his Department for each year since 1969.

Mr. Moyle

The numbers of officially confirmed cases of wart disease in England and Wales affecting the variety King Edward were as shown in the table below. In each case the future planting on the infected land of King Edward, and of the other non-immune potato varieties, was prohibited.

1969 9
1970 29
1971 25
1972 14
1973 8

Mr. Body

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases of wart disease affecting Arran Pilot potatoes in England and Wales were known to his Department for each year since 1969.

Mr. Moyle

None. Arran Pilot is one of the potato varieties immune to wart disease.

Mr. Body

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the present rate of the common external tariff on potatoes imported from outside the EEC and the rate of any tariff that existed for the corresponding rate in 1973.

Mr. Moyle

The present rate of the common external tariff on potatoes is as follows:

per cent.
Seed Potatoes 9
New Potatoes 15
Other
—for the manufacture of Starch 9
—other 18

These rates applied in 1973.

The United Kingdom is currently applying the transitional tariff rates as set out in the Import Duties (General) (No. 8) Order 1973. The 1973 rates are contained in the Import Duties (General) (No. 7) Order 1971.

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