asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state whether all the industrial alcohol factories are now actively engaged in production and the number of days on which each has been working between August 1st, 1938, and February 1st, 1939; further, if he will state (a) the quantities of potatoes purchased by each factory during the year 1938 and the quantity delivered prior to January 1st, 1939; (b) the average price paid for potatoes delivered to each factory; and (c) whether contracts have been made by the factories for the supply of potatoes adequate to maintain them in full-time production during the current year and the price at which potatoes will be supplied under such contracts.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Industrial Alcohol Factories.
As the answer contains a number of figures I am circulating it with the Official Report.
(1) Three of the five industrial alcohol factories are at present in production; (2) the number of days on which each factory has been in production during the period 1st August, 1938, to 1st February, 1939, is as follows:—
|
Cooley |
146 days |
|
Carrickmacross |
48,, |
|
Labbadish |
62,, |
|
Carndonagh |
23,, |
|
Corroy |
Nil |
(3) (a) The quantities of potatoes of the 1938 crop due for delivery under contract to the Cooley, Carrickmacross, Labbadish, Carndonagh and Corroy factories were respectively:—7,463, 2,454, 6,712, 782 and 123 tons. The deliveries made under these contracts prior to the 1st January, 1939, were respectively:—2,042, 1,141, 2,033, 405 and nil tons. (b) The average price paid for potatoes of the 1938 crop delivered to the factories at Cooley, Carrickmacross, Labbadish and Carndonagh was respectively:—
|
£1 |
18s. |
11d. |
per ton |
|
£1 |
18s. |
9d. |
,,,, |
|
£1 |
16s. |
2d. |
,,,, |
|
£1 |
18s. |
3d. |
,,,, |
(c) Contracts were made for sufficient supplies of potatoes to maintain the factories at Labbadish and Cooley in full production during the current potato season; it was found impossible to make contracts for sufficient supplies for the remaining factories. In fact, however, the contractors are unable to supply the quantities contracted for and with the possible exception of Cooley it will not be possible to keep the plants in production during the present potato season. The current price for deliveries to the factories of potatoes of 16 per cent. starch content is £2 per ton with an addition or deduction of 2d. per ton for each .1 of 1 per cent. above or below 16 per cent. of starch.