HC Deb 14 May 1947 vol 437 c1501
51. Sir. W. Smithers

asked the Minister of Food the loss to the British taxpayer incurred through Government control of imports which are unfit, or partially unfit, for human consumption, particularly of fruits.

The Minister of Food (Mr. Strachey)

A full statement of the quantities of imported food condemned as unfit for human consumption was given in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Newport on 15th November. They amounted to a small fraction of one per cent., and in the particular case of fresh fruit to one-twentieth of one per cent. of total imports. To state these tiny quantities in terms of the financial loss to the taxpayer would involve an expenditure of time and labour which I am sure the hon. Member would be the first to deplore.

Sir W. Smithers

Is the Minister satisfied that with central control he gets all the information which would enable him to answer my Question?

Mr. Strachey

Yes, Sir, in so far as these imports are centrally controlled, we get much more information about them.