HC Deb 22 March 1993 vol 221 cc503-4W
Mr. Morgan

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the effect of the imposition of value-added tax on all capital expenditure projects initiated by colleges of higher and further education after 1 April; what consultations he has had with the appropriate funding councils on this; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Hanley

[holding answer 19 March 1993]: In Northern Ireland there will be no change in the current

Household consumption of fresh potatoes and potato products
Ib/person/year raw potato equivalent 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991
Fresh potatoes 134.0 130.0 130.1 133.5 126.3 122.8 119.1 116.0 114.6 110.2
Instant potato 1.6 2.1 1.8 1.6 1.6 1.1 1.4 1.0 1.0 1.2
Canned potato 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.7 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.7 0.7
Crisps and potato products 12.2 13.0 12.8 14.2 15.0 16.4 15.6 15.9 16.0 16.7
Frozen chips etc 13.0 12.7 13.6 13.7 14.9 16.2 16.7 17.5 16.0 17.8
Total potatoes 161.2 158.2 158.9 163.5 158.4 157.2 153.5 151.1 148.4 146.6
Fresh as a percentage of total 83.1 82.1 81.9 81.7 79.7 79.1 78.1 76.7 77.3 75.1

Source: National Food Survey (NFS).

Mr. Gale

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from potato growers about the proposed EC potato regime.

Mr. Curry

In addition to meetings with the Potato Marketing Board and the National Farmers Union, I have received and continue to receive numerous representations from growers, most of whom support the retention of our national arrangements in the context of the proposed regime.

Dame Peggy Fenner

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those other EC member states which have existing price and quota arrangements for the production of potatoes.

status of colleges of further and higher education on 1 April 1993. The question is not therefore relevant in the Northern Ireland context.