§ Mr. Barry FieldTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has determined the market support prices for potatoes to apply in Great Britain of the 1989–90 crop year beginning 1 July 1989.
§ Mr. MacGregorAgriculture Ministers have consulted the National Farmers Union about the market support arrangements to apply for the 1989–90 crop year. We have decided to authorise the Potato Marketing Board to enter into pre-season contracts with producers over the period November 1989 to May 1990 at a scale of prices not exceeding a weighted average of £53 per tonne. We have also authorised the board to intervene directly on the market throuhout the season where this will ensure that support can be carried out more cheaply than by purchasing under contract, provided that the total intervention during 1980–90 does not exceed 500,000 tonnes. The target area for potato planting by registered producers in Great Britain was fixed last July at 155,000 hectares.