§ 51. Major Legge-Bourkeasked the Minister of Food what was the purpose of his Department in raising the price offered for good colour mixed Australian tallow, sub-mark F, in October, 1948, when American and European prices were falling to levels below the price previously offered by his Department; why the price was reduced on 1st October, 1949, despite the fact that devaluation caused a rise in American prices; and what has been the effect of each change on supplies in the United Kingdom.
§ Dr. SummerskillMy Department does not buy tallow from either North America or from Europe. Prices from remaining non-dollar sources were rising in October, 1948, and we had to raise our buying prices in Australia and elsewhere in order to secure supplies. Prices from these sources have dropped in 1949 and we can now buy more cheaply. Shipments of Australian tallow of all descriptions increased from about 2,300 tons in 1947–48 1218 to about 9,600 tons in 1948–49. It is too early to forecast shipments during the current season.
§ Major Legge-BourkeDoes not the right hon. Lady realise that the point of the original Question was the price being offered by the Americans, not the price which the Americans would charge us if we tried to buy it from them.
§ Dr. SummerskillThe hon. and gallant Member is a little confused. I shall be only too happy to explain these tallow negotiations if he likes to come and see me. We do not buy from the United States because they want dollars and that is why it is not relevant for him to compare United States prices with soft currency prices.