§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will explain the) shortfall of 61,000 acres planted for potatoes in 1975.
§ Mr. BishopA target acreage is determined annually designed to meet consumer requirements and allowing some surplus; the Potato Marketing Board allocates quotas to registered producers in Great Britain at a level designed to achieve the target. The actual acreage 171W planted depends upon decisions taken by individual producers taking into account such factors as the competitive position of alternative crops, the labour and capital investment required for potato growing and weather conditions at the time of planting.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he intends to abolish the quota limits for farmers on the production of potatoes.
§ Mr. BishopThe quota system operated by the Potato Marketing Board is designed to achieve the target acreage determined by the Government and the Board each year and is part of the potato guarantee and marketing arrangements which we can maintain until December 1977. I have no current plans to change it. Registered producers may plant more than their allocated quota by transference from other producers or by payment to the Board of an excess levy of £62 per hectare.
§ Mr. Fernyhoughasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total tonnage of potatoes harvested in 1974; what he assesses was the total price received by farmers for the same; what was the total tonnage of potatoes harvested in 1975; and what was his assessment of the total price received.
§ Mr. BishopI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 15th January to the hon. Member for Staffordshire, South-West (Mr. Cormack).—[Vol. 903, c.212.]