40. Colonel THORNEasked the Food Controller whether his attention has been drawn to the Board of Trade monthly Foreign Commerce Report, which indicates that the value of American bacon exports is under 1s. 2d. a lb. for the first eight months of last year and not 1s. 4½d. as stated by his Department; whether he 2222 observes that the Board of Trade maintains that this figure is correct; whether he can explain the difference between the two Departments; and what are the items and particulars of the same which constitute the difference between 1s. 2d. per lb. f.o.b. at New York and 1s. 6d. c.i.f. at Liverpool?
§ Mr. McCURDYThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. It is calculated by the Ministry of Food that the actual f.a.s. cost of imported American bacon to the Ministry over the first eight months of last year is 1s. 4½d. per lb. I am now in communication with the President of the Boardof Trade as to the explanation of the difference to which the hon. and gallant Member refers, but it is clear that it is to some extent to be accounted for by the fact that the Board of Trade figures include exports to countries other than Great Britain.As regards the last part of the question, the items constituting the difference between the f.a.s. price of 1s. 4½d. and the c.i.f. price are freight, insurance and landing charges, administrative charges and loss of weight.