asked the Minister of Food what, in convenient categories, are the salaries paid to the 161 potato supervisors and the 555 merchant agents who buy potatoes from growers; what is their cost to the taxpayer, including salaries, office space and travelling and subsistence allowances; and how many clerks are employed under them; and what is their cost.

As the answer is long and detailed I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Is the Minister aware that he is adopting the technique of the Chancellor of the exchequer? Is he aware that the distribution of potatoes would be far more efficient if it was allowed to rest in the hands of experienced dealers and, in consequence, all the expense of these bureaucrats would be saved?

No, Sir.

Following is the answer:

The staff of 161 potato supervisors are in the following categories:—

1. (a) 47 area supervisors on salaries from £500 to £650 per annum;
2. (b) 114 assistant area supervisors on salaries from £380 to £500 per annum.

Merchant agents are not paid salaries but receive inspection and loading fees.

For the year ended March, 1947, salaries borne on the Ministry of Food vote and paid to potato supervisors amounted to approximately £80,000 and travelling and subsistence allowances to approximately £28,000. Clerks, including typing staff, employed in potato area offices number 500 with a total salary cost of approximately £98,000 per annum. The fees paid to merchant agents are recovered in the prices charged by my Department when the potatoes are resold. For the year ended March, 1947, they amounted to £240,000. The cost of the office accommodation is borne on the Vote of the Ministry of Works.

asked the Minister of Food whom he consulted before he authorised the export of 1,211 tons of dew and ware potatoes to Malta, Sierre Leone and Iceland; and whether these countries paid in hard or soft currency.

The Colonial Office and the Treasury. Over 1,000 tons of this small quantity went to Malta to replace new potatoes sent to us before our own crop was ready. Payments were made in sterling.

asked the Minister of Food what steps are being taken to secure the equitable distribution of potato supplies to consumers during the winter months.

In order to prevent supplies from running out before the end of the season, a distribution scheme for potatoes has been introduced as from yesterday.

In view of the seriousness of the potato shortage, would the Minister inform the House why a distribution scheme was not introduced earlier, before the available supplies were substantially dissipated?

There are a number of reasons for that. I do not agree for a moment with the suggestion that available supplies had been dissipated by this date. For one thing, it was not until recent weeks that my right hon. Friend could furnish us with an estimate of supplies that would be available, and it is still only an estimate, and, for another thing, it would, I think, be impossible to control the distribution of potatoes at the beginning of the season before a large proportion of them had come into the hands of the Ministry.

Would the right hon. Gentleman say why it has been necessary to limit the ration to so low a figure, looking to the fact that last year, I think, 6 lb. per head per week was the figure, and that the estimated deficiency in the crop is only 20 per cent?

I think the right hon. and learned Gentleman's figure is incorrect; just over 5 lb. per head per week was the figure for last year. The explanation is that the deficiency has to fall largely on the domestic consumer and on the catering establishments, because we must provide for seed, and because, in the early months of the year, distribution went on at the old rate.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that, during the last two winters, there were serious shortages of potatoes in the London area through faulty distribution, and can he give an assurance that, in the coming winter, the system of distribution will be more perfect than it has been?

This allocation scheme is part of the measures which we thought it necessary to take in order to deal with it.

In view of the cut that has been imposed, will the Minister consider the advisability of stopping any further exports of potatoes to ex-enemy countries?

Yes, Sir; they were stopped some time ago.

Is the Minister satisfied that this allocation is sufficiently large for the class of people who are the youngest people in receipt of an adult ration book, particularly in institutions?

I would wish that we could say that the rate of allocation would be higher than it is to this and every other section of the community, but we must not run out of potatoes before the new crop is ready.

Is this a preliminary to the rationing of other vegetables? Is this the thin end of the "veg."?