§ 35. Sir W. Smithersasked the Minister of Food what was the last price he paid 1621 per ton for whale oil; how many tons he has bought since 1st January, 1948; and what prices he paid.
§ Mr. StracheyThe only contracts made for whale oil since 1st January, 1948, are for the 1948–49 catch. We have purchased the total production of the United Kingdom and South African expeditions at £90 per ton ex-ship for No. 1 quality. We shall not know the quantity until early in the New Year.
§ Sir W. SmithersWhy was the contract with Messrs. Salvesen, which was agreed at the time at £80, altered to £100 a ton, and why should the Minister gamble with the taxpayers' money and not give a proper account.
§ Mr. StracheyThe price of £90 a ton is a reduction, not an increase, and I entirely deny the implication in the last part of the supplementary question.
§ Sir W. SmithersThe Minister is evading my question. I understand from the Public Accounts Committee that the agreement was made with Messrs. Salvesen for £80 a ton and it was put up to £100 a ton; will the right hon. Gentleman explain why that was done?
§ Mr. StracheyThe hon. Member is referring to last year's contract and I am referring to this year's contract. In last year's contract there was a clause which made it necessary to pay the same price as was paid to the Norwegians and that worked out at more than £80 a ton. Therefore Messrs. Salvesen were entitled to the same price per ton.
§ Sir W. SmithersIs not this the result of bulk purchasing bringing about bulk selling——
§ Mr. SpeakerMr. De la Bère.