§ 52. Mr. Willeyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what trading stocks of foodstuffs are at present held by his Department.
Mr. AmoryI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my 2072 hon. Friend on 30th January. The position is unchanged except that the small stock of milk powder held at that date has since been disposed of.
§ Mr. WilleyWill the right hon. Gentleman say what are the difficulties facing the Government in disposing of these commercial stocks, and can he also tell us what the current rate of loss is?
Mr. AmoryThe stocks are being disposed of steadily, and I know of no particular difficulties confronting the Government in the process.
§ Mr. WilleyWill the right hon. Gentleman deal with the second point that I put to him? Will he not agree that it is certainly disturbing that the Government are apparently finding it so difficult to dispose of the stocks, particularly when they are evidently disposing of them at such a great loss?