§ Mr. Russell Johnstonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the present estimates of tonnages of potatoes 782W held on farms in Scotland, seed and ware; what they were a year ago; and what steps he intends to take to stabilise the potato industry.
§ Mr. William RossThe most recent estimate of stocks that can be compared with the corresponding position last year is that made by the Potato Marketing Board at the end of November 1975, when the estimated stock of seed and ware potatoes on farms in Scotland was 463,000 tons as compared with 672,000 tons in November 1974. The results of a further survey of farm stocks taken at the end of January are not yet available.
Movements of potatoes from Scotland have taken place earlier this season than in previous years. The considerable fall in production in the United Kingdom was mainly the result of the adverse growing conditions during the season. I am satisfied that, taking one year with another, the present price support and marketing arrangements have provided a valuable assurance for the producer interest. They cannot, however, be expected to prevent shortages of supply resulting from quite abnormal weather conditions.