§ Mr. George Rodgersasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish in the Official Report figures showing the weight of the home produced main crop of potatoes in 1975, 1974 and 1973.
§ Mr. BishopThe estimated tonnages of main crop potatoes produced in the United Kingdom in each of the last three crop years is as follows:
tons 1975 4,117,000 1974 6,232,000 1973 6,281,000
§ Mr. Watkinsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the tonnage of the potato harvest in 1975–1974 and 1973.
§ Mr. BishopI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Staffordshire, South-West (Mr. Cormack) on 15th January.—[Vol. 903; c.212.]
359W
§ Mr. Watkinsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence he has to show that the hoarding of potatoes is leading to high prices for the consumer.
§ Mr. BishopNone. The high prices are mainly brought about by the shortfall in production due to the hot, dry summer which adversely affected the United Kingdom crop last year. It is the usual practice for some farmers to store potatoes through to the spring. This is necessary in order to supply the market towards the end of the season. I hope to see supplies coming forward regularly.
§ Mr. Wrigglesworthasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the overall production of potatoes in this country in 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973 and 1974 and the estimate for 1975.
§ Mr. BishopDetails of United Kingdom potato production in the years 1971 to 1975 were provided in the reply given to the hon. Member for Staffordshire, South-West (Mr. Cormack)—[Vol. 903, c.212]—on 15th January. The comparable figure for 1970 is 7,364,000 tons.