§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why he has placed a ban on the import of new potatoes from Spain and Greece ; how long the ban will be imposed for ; and if such a ban will be lawful when Spain and Greece join the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerThe ban was applied because of the heavy subsidisation of exports by the Governments concerned. When Greece joins the Community310W in January 1981 a prohibition of this sort will no longer be needed because subsidisation by Greece of potato exports to the United Kingdom will be illegal. The terms for Spanish accession to the Community have not yet been decided.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current average retail price of new potatoes ; and what was the comparable average retail price in the same month of each of the previous 10 years.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerRetail prices of new potatoes are generally in the range 10–14p/lb at present.
The average retail price for the month of June over the previous 10 years was as follows :
Year Price (p/1b) 1979 … … … … 12.41 1978 … … … … 11.95 1977 … … … … 12.65 1976 … … … … 12.67 1975 … … … … 10.15 1974 … … … … 6.49 1973 … … … … 5.68 1972 … … … … 4.64 1971 … … … … 3.96 1970 … … … … 4.09 Source : National Food Survey (MAFF).