HC Deb 05 June 1946 vol 423 cc1997-8
56. Mr. Peter Thorneycroft

asked the Minister of Food whether his attention has been called to the fact that 6,000 lb. of Jaffa oranges were delivered in Sunder- land on Saturday, 25th May, in a rotten condition; to what port these oranges were delivered, the date of their arrival and the reasons for their deterioration.

Mr. Strachey

Yes, Sir. The quantity referred to is part of a shipment of some 34,000 cases which arrived in Newcastle on 13th May. Discharge of the vessel was completed on 21st May. It is not unusual towards the end of the season for some consignments of Palestine oranges to contain a fairly high percentage of waste as at that period they are very ripe when shipped.