Colonel THORNEasked the Food Controller if he will state the reason of the margarine scarcity and the accompanying rise in price; and if he will state the total amount of copra, ground nuts, palm kernels, refined cocoa-nut oil, refined cotton-seed oil, oleo oil, and premier jus imported during the first four months of last year and the first four months of this year, respectively, and the c.i.f. values of same?
Mr. ROBERTSI have no reason to think that there is any general shortage of margarine, although a temporary shortage in individual shops has recently been caused by trade preference. Difficulties of this nature are inseparable from the removal of organised distribution, but steps have been taken to deal with the cases of shortage, and I do not anticipate that any more complaints will be received. I may add that in point of fact more margarine is being manufactured and consumed in this country than in any former period.
On the question of price, when control of margarine was removed at the beginning of March, manufacturers initiated a policy of price cutting as a result of which margarine was for some time supplied to 591W the public below the cost of the raw materials. The position could not continue indefinitely, and the price has now risen to a figure more in relation to the cost of production.
It is difficult within the limits of a Parliamentary answer to set out the figures for which the hon. and gallant Member asks in the last part of the question, and I am accordingly causing a full statement on the subject to be sent to him.