asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what factors influenced his decision to extend import licences for hardcrop potatoes until 31st July 1977.

Prices for maincrop potatoes remain high compared with a normal season and quality is not good. The decision to extend licences until 31st July 1977 was taken to enable imports to continue to supplement our market during the remainder of the 1976–77 season, which has been one of overall shortage due to the drought last summer.