§ Mr. HIGHAMasked the Minister of Food when the control of imported butter and cheese will be removed; and what are the Government holdings of these products?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONThe restrictions on the importation of butter will be removed on 1st April and purchases by the Ministry will cease on or before that date. For reasons already given to the House I do not think that it would be in the public interest to disclose the stock figures at present. As to cheese, all purchases and restrictions on dealings in privately imported cheese have been discontinued for nine months. The balance of Government stocks still in hand amounts to about 5,000 tons, and it is hoped that these will be cleared by 31st March.