§ Mr. Kenneth Carlisleasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will announce the support arrangements to apply for the 1982 potato crop.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerThe Government have decided that the guaranteed price for the 1982 potato crop should remain at the existing level of £44.64 per ton—£43.94 per tonne.
In order to ensure stability in the market throughout the season, the Potato Marketing Board has again been asked to offer producers a contract for a proportion of their crop.
346WThe prices offered will maintain the same differential above the guaranteed price as last year. The aim will be to place under contract up to 600,000 tonnes of potatoes so that they can be removed from the market in Great Britain, should this prove necessary.
Consideration will be given to the need for market support to Northern Ireland as necessary.