§ 18. Mr. Cryerasked the Minister or Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the current position regarding the supply of potatoes.
§ 40. Mr. James Lamondasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the supply of potatoes coming on to the market.
§ Mr. BishopThe reasons for the present shortage have been fully explained to the House. I would refer my hon. Friends to the statement made during the debate last evening and to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Newham, South (Mr. Spearing) on 26th January.—[Vol. 904, c.29–31.]
§ 33. Mr. Neubertasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many tons of potatoes were imported in November 1975, December 1975 and during the same months last year.
§ Mr. BishopIn November and December 1974 total imports of new potatoes were 648 tons; imports of maincrop were nil since the normal ban applied. In November and December 1975 total imports of new and maincrop potatoes were 75,216 tons.
§ 52. Mr. Kenneth Lewisasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will initiate a campaign to encourage economy in the use of potatoes in the interests of keeping down their price.
§ Mr. BishopI am sure the housewife and other potato users are already fully aware of the need to economise in the use of potatoes at the present time. I do not consider a Government campaign to be necessary.