§ 57. Mr. Parkerasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food why profits of up to 3s. per case have been allowed recently to Covent Garden firms for handling oranges; why oranges come on to the market at all; and whether he will make his own arrangements to supply oranges through local authorities to hospitals, schools and fruiterers without any middlemen's profits?
Major Lloyd GeorgeThe margin provided for a wholesale merchant in the Oranges (Maximum Prices) Order, 1940, for South African and Rhodesian oranges, which are the only oranges recently imported into this country, is 2s. 3d. or 2s. 6d. per case, according to weight. This is a gross margin and is not excessive. I have no reason to think that the cost of distribution through local authorities would be less.