24 and 35. Mr. T. WILSONasked the Secretary to the Treasury (1) whether the Department has had a scheme laid before 1562 it by China tea importers representing the trade for the purchase of a further 3,000,000 lbs. of tea of the present crop; whether the firm offers to undertake the entire financing of the scheme; whether he will, in view of the shortness of the time in which this transaction can be carried out, state the decision of the Department in the matter.
The hon. Member also asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food (2) whether his Department has had before it a scheme for the purchase of a further 3,000,000 lbs. of China tea; and, if so, whether it has approved of it?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of FOOD (Mr. Clynes)I have been asked to reply to these questions. A proposal of the character indicated by the hon. Member has been considered, but in view of the difficulties of tonnage and exchange, it is not thought desirable to sanction further purchases of China tea until those already authorised have been completed and shipped.