§ 21. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on potato supplies and the likely trends in retail prices over the next year.
§ Mr. BishopSupplies of both old and new potatoes are sufficient to meet demand for the rest of the current season at reasonable prices. It is too early to forecast supplies and prices for the next crop.
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§ 38. Mr. James Lamondasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied that the supply of potatoes on the market is adequate.
§ Mr. BishopYes. A significant proportion of remaining supplies from the 1977 potato crop is contracted to the Potato Marketing Board under the joint support buying programme. Increasing quantities of these potatoes are now being released back on to the market supplementing the reducing supplies still available from uncontracted stocks.
§ 40. Mr. Newtonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the current arrangements for the marketing of potatoes.
§ Mr. BishopYes. The current arrangements have served the country well over a number of years, although we may need to make some changes in the future mainly as a result of our membership of the EEC. The Government are considering this whole question in consultation with the industry.