§ 69. Mr. ANEURIN WILLIAMSasked the Food Controller whether it is now proposed to remove all control of the import and price of cocoa, and whether, in view of the stocks of cocoa in this country, the restriction will be removed under which only 50 per cent. of the total amount imported is allowed to be exported from this country?
Mr. ROBERTSThe Ministry of Food has exercised no control over the import of cocoa apart from taking the necessary steps to ensure that sufficient tonnage is placed at the disposal of importers to enable them to bring adequate supplies to this country. The question of removing or suspending the controlled price is now under review. As regards export, although there are considerable stocks of raw materials in this country, there is a great shortage of the finer qualities, and in order to safeguard home supplies it is still considered necessary to maintain the existing restrictions. I may add that the quantities of raw cocoa normally exported from this country before the War were very considerably below 50 per cent. of the importation.