asked the Minister of Food whether he will remove restrictions in respect of the movement of carrots between England and Scotland after 31st March of this year.

No, Sir; but, as in previous seasons, my Department will ensure that a fair proportion of the supplies available in England is sent to Scotland.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the hon. Member for Coatbridge was asked 2s. 3d. per pound for carrots in Scotland on Saturday, and does he not think that an extortionate figure to ask housewives to pay?

These restrictions are to secure the fair distribution of the available supply all over the United Kingdom, but the supply itself has, of course, been grievously affected by the climatic conditions in the last few weeks.

As the purpose is to secure equal distribution, and the weather has made the growing of carrots utterly impossible in Scotland in the early months of this year, will the Minister relax the restrictions and allow those grown in England to pass into Scotland?

Yes, Sir, but not all of them. The growing of carrots has also been very adversely affected in many parts of England as well.