§ 56. Sir W. Smithersasked the Minister of Food if he will give the names of the persons or firms who conducted the negotiations for the purchase of the Jamaican coffee crop; and what is the cost per lb. delivered in a United Kingdom port.
§ Mr. StracheyNo, Sir.
§ Sir W. SmithersIf these negotiations had been conducted by experienced brokers they would have been done much more expeditiously and much more economically.
§ Mr. StracheyNo, Sir. These negotiations, and other negotiations of the kind, were done by businessmen, if I may so, very much more experienced than the hon. Member.
§ Sir W. SmithersMay I ask why Ministers on the Front Bench should be so rude in their answers?
§ Captain CrookshankHow can an answer to a Question about the cost per lb. be "No, Sir"? Does the right hon. Gentleman mean there is no cost?
§ Mr. StracheyI was under the impression that the hon. Gentleman was asking Question 56 and that he was asking a supplementary.
§ Mr. StracheyI am telling the hon. Member I am unable to give him that figure. That is sense. If hon. Members have any difficulty in construing it, I am very willing to explain to them.
§ Sir W. SmithersIs the right hon. Gentleman unable to tell, or will he not?
§ Mr. StracheyI am perfectly able, but I am refusing to do so for the reasons I have just given.