§ 26. Mr. LOUGHasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller whether, having regard to the scarcity ruling and high prices fixed for tea sold in London and the accumulation of stocks in Colombo and Calcutta, he can undertake to arrange that teas shall be carried from those ports to London at ¾d./1d., the rates which the Government state it costs them to carry teas for the Army, so as to effect a corresponding reduction in the wholesale and retail prices of distributors to the public?
§ Sir L. CHIOZZA MONEYThe important point raised by my right hon. Friend's question is receiving very careful attention. In the meantime, I may say that the tea from Calcutta, which is roughly about two-thirds of the entire supply received from India and Ceylon, is already carried under pre-war freight contracts of about ¾d. per 1b., which is less than Blue Book rate, whereas tea from Colombo is carried at a freight of nearly 1578 3d. per 1b. Unfortunately, however, the lower freight enjoyed by the greater part of the tea supply does not appear to be reflected in London market prices, and to this point we are specially directing the attention of the Food Controller.
§ Mr. LOUGHIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the price in London is fixed by the Government, and will he undertake to consider, in conjunction with the Food Controller, whether the freight from Colombo cannot be reduced and the benefit secured to the public by fixing lower retail and wholesale prices?
§ Sir L. CHIOZZA MONEYI am sure my right hon. Friend will not expect me to trespass upon the difficult ground which is the province of the Food Controller, but the answer I have just given did state that I am bringing that particular point to the attention of my Noble Friend.