§ 54. Sir R. Glynasked the Minister of Food what is the quantity of cocoa purchased by his Department for United Kingdom use during the last 12 months; what is the anticipated fall in production due to disease of the trees; and how long it is estimated that it will take after the new plantations are established to bring imports up to normal figures or beyond.
§ Mr. WebbWe cannot, as a trading Ministry, disclose up-to-date figures of our purchases. But net imports of cocoa 1293 beans for the 12 months ending 31st May, 1950, were nearly 150,000, as compared with an average of 96,000 tons for the five pre-war years up to 1938. The second and third parts of the Question, which, I think, relate to West African cocoa, should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
§ Sir H. WilliamsIn view of this large increase in the import of cocoa why are we importing chocolate from Czechoslovakia?
§ Mr. FernyhoughTo eat it.