§ 25. Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the Minister of Food what action he is taking on the offer conveyed to him on 23rd July by Messrs. H. S. Hames-Mathew on behalf of Indian tea exporters to supply, at once, any quantity of tea.
§ Mr. Simmons (Lord of the Treasury)I have been asked to reply. All offers of tea received by the Ministry of Food are considered on their merits. The prices quoted by Messrs. Hamer-Mathew were considerably above the prevailing rates, and, accordingly, the firm were informed that the Ministry was not prepared to accept their offer.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterIs the hon. Gentleman aware of the fact that his answer which bases the refusal to take this tea on the question of price is completely inconsistent with the statement made by the Parliamentary Secretary last week that all the tea that could be 2413 obtained was being obtained, but despite that the tea ration had to be reduced?
§ Mr. SimmonsI understand that it was open to all Indian tea producers to offer their tea to the Tea Control in Calcutta, and that the tenders were asked for, but that the total offers received were in excess of the quantity which the Indian Government were prepared to allow us to purchase by private contract, and that, therefore, the offers had to be scaled down proportionately.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterIs the hon. Gentleman aware of the fact that that is the third inconsistent explanation which has been given to the country for this shortage?