§ Mr. Frank R. Whiteasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what recent representations she has received from fish fryers associations concerning fish and potato prices; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. MaclennanOn potato prices I refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Keighley (Mr. Cryer) on 19th January 1976. On fish prices, we436W have received no representations from fish fryers associations concerning fish prices.
§ Mr. Frank R. Whiteasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will investigate the allegations by the Fish Fryer's Association that fish and potato stocks are being withheld from the market in an attempt to manipulate and maintain artificially high prices based on fictitious shortages; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. MaclennanThe shortage of potatoes is regrettably not fictitious but results from a one-third decline in supply following a growing season in which yields per acre were sharply reduced. There is no evidence that either potato or fish stocks are being withheld in order to manipulate prices.