§ Mr. L. SCOTTasked the Minister of Food whether his attention has been called to a correspondence with the Ministry in regard to a request by Messrs. Macandrew, Moreland, and Company, Limited, of Liverpool, for licence to export a substantial parcel of raw cocoa which is unsaleable in the home market, and which they were unable to export during the War; whether the Ministry refused the request on the ground that the cocoa could be sold in the United Kingdom; whether the total annual consumption of the United Kingdom is only 64,000 tons; whether there are in the United Kingdom to-day 45,000 tons in stock; whether Messrs. Macandrew, Moreland, and Company have had the parcel in the hands of two leading firms, Messrs. William Porter and Company and Messrs. H. E. Davidson and Company, for sale for many months without a single bid; and whether, in view of the falling market, he can assist a British firm of merchants by allowing them to sell it, as they easily can, for export abroad?
§ Mr. McCURDYMy attention has been called to the correspondence in question. In March, 1919, permission was given to importers of raw cocoa to re-export 50 per cent. of each consignment, but on the advice of the trade this concession was not made retrospective except in the case of such raw cocoa imported prior to March, 1919, as was found to be unsuitable for home consumption. I am not aware of the attempts which it is suggested have been made by Messrs. Macandrew, More-land and Company to sell the raw cocoa in question, but the Trade Committee, to which such questions are referred, has reported that the cocoa is both suitable and saleable for consumption in this country, and in these circumstances I am unable to make concessions to this firm which have been refused to others similarly placed.