§ 43. Mr. Lewisasked the Minister of Food for what quantity of tea supple mentary tea coupons have been received by his Department for the period 23rd March to 4th June; how far this falls short of the 3,570,000 1b. purchased by retailers during that period; and how he explains the discrepancy.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeI not clear what coupons the hon. Member has in mind. Supplementary permits are only issued when the trader can show that his sales against coupons and caterers permits are exceeding the quantity provided by his main permit. They are not issued to enable the trader to increase his stocks.
§ Mr. LewisIs the Minister not aware that there was an extraordinary increase in the applications for supplementary permits in the three weeks preceding the increase in price resulting from the dropping of the subsidy, and that there was a build-up of stocks by wholesalers and retailers to enable them to cash in at a higher price when the subsidy came off?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeThat is exactly the opposite of what happened. The fact is that in the period last year corresponding to that to which the hon. Gentleman refers, 23rd March to 14th June, the tea issue was 40 per cent. higher than this year.