§ 15. Lieut.-Colonel Liptonasked the President of the Board of Trade how many gallons of castor oil were sold during the past year; how much it cost; and how much it realised.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftSales of castor oil during the past year which were made in the normal course of managing the stock of this commodity amounted to 1,518 tons, or just over 350,000 gallons. This material was purchased at various times during 1953 at the market price then ruling, and sold by competitive tender at the best prices obtainable.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonI hope that the right hon. Gentleman does not think that his Answer is going to be swallowed without protest. Will he bear in mind that it was his suggestion, made last week, that I should put down a Question on this subject, otherwise I should not have dreamt of it? Will he not give figures to show how much has been lost on this transaction, and give some assurance that the waste of public money is not going to continue?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftIt is not a question of waste of public money. It is the ordinary turnover of public stocks such as has been practised by all Governments, and it has never been the practice of any Government to disclose figures.