§ 25. Mr. Hardyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he proposes to take in connection with recent increases in the price of potatoes.
§ Mr. BishopThe present high prices of potatoes derive from the shortfall in the 1975 home crop, caused by the hot, dry weather last summer, and will reflect the difficult supply position until early potatoes are available in quantity. Early in the season the Government took action banning exports and allowing imports in order to conserve and supplement supplies. An application by the United Kingdom to suspend the tariff on maincrop potatoes was approved in Brussels on 20th January. But these measures cannot make good the overall deficiency in supplies.