§ 30. Sir W. Smithersasked the Minister of Food how much sugar, tea, biscuits, chocolate, sweets and other foods in short supply or in tight rationing categories, has been exported during the past six months, to the latest available date.
§ Dr. SummerskillAs the answer includes a table of figures I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Sir W. SmithersIs not the right hon. Lady aware that the people of this country could have done quite well with the articles mentioned in Question 30 and could have done quite well without the articles mentioned in Question 31?
§ Dr. SummerskillI have explained this matter to the hon. Gentleman on many occasions, but perhaps I can explain it in another and more simple form. Surely he would agree that it is wise for us to export biscuits in return for bacon and eggs.
§ Following is the answer:
| EXPORTS FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM IN THE SIX MONTHS AUGUST, 1948, TO JANUARY, 1949, INCLUSIVE | ||
| Tons. | ||
| Sugar, refined, including candy | 212,580 | (a) |
| Tea | 1,375 | (b) |
| Biscuits | 8,288 | |
| Chocolate confectionery | 9,317 | |
| Sugar confectionery | 7,705 | |
| Margarine | 3,975 | (c) |
| Shortening (including lard compound and compound cooking fat) | 2,327 | (c) |
| Carcase meat and offal | 19 | (d) |
| Canned meat, including canned poultry and game | 72 | (a) |
| Bacon and hams | 346 | (d) |
| Condensed milk | 1,917 | (d) |
| Table jelly crystals, powders and squares | 254 | |
| (a) Exported to British possessions, British Forces overseas, or against payment in hard currency. | ||
| (b) Tea specially imported for blending and re-export. No Ministry owned tea is exported. | ||
| (c) Three hundred and sixty-eight tons margarine and 537 tons shortening exported to hard currency areas. Remainder to British Forces and British possessions overseas. | ||
| (d) Supplies for Malta, Gibraltar, Channel Islands and British Forces overseas only. |