§ Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what study she has made of the evidence of the 400 per cent. addition to potato prices in one year submitted to her by the hon. Member for Cannock; and if she will now reconsider her decision not to fix maximum prices for potatoes.
§ Mr. Maclennan,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 26th April 1976; Vol. 910, c. 12], gave the following information:
I have carefully considered this evidence and have written to my hon. Friend explaining why the Government continue to believe that fixing maximum prices for potatoes would not be in the consumers' best interests. This would stimulate consumption, while making the United Kingdom market less attractive to the imports which are essential to supplement the reduced United Kingdom stocks remaining from last season.