To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the reasons for recent fluctuations in potato prices. [34994]

Supplies, and thus the prices, of all vegetables including potatoes are very much affected by weather conditions. A cold wet spring in 1994, then summer drought followed by a wet harvest resulted in a reduced potato crop throughout Europe. The quality of potatoes also suffered. These factors led to a substantial increase in the price of potatoes of an acceptable quality to consumers.