§ 34. Mr. Willeyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the amount of meat sold by his Department abroad during 1955; and to which countries this meat has been sold.
Mr. AmoryMy Department has sold 11,516 tons of meat abroad. The meat was sold to private traders and its destination is not known.
§ Mr. WilleyWould it not have been better to have had the meat at home? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is alleged that a good deal of the quantities of food we are consigning abroad are being resold to the Soviet Union, and would it not be better to sell direct? Can the right hon. Gentleman say how much subsidy is being borne on these sales to continental countries?
Mr. AmoryIn authorising these sales, I took into consideration the interests of the consumer and also his interests in his capacity as taxpayer. I am satisfied that the right way to dispose of this meat was by these sales on the Continent. I do not know the ultimate destination of the meat. In answer to the third part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question, a small loss was sustained on this transaction.
§ Mr. WilleyCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is the policy of the Government to sell abroad at subsidised prices? Will he make inquiries about the ultimate destination of the meat, because, after all, the Soviet Union is now a competitor with us in the world market for meat?