§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the contract formerly existing between Messrs. Rose and Company and the Admiralty for the supply of British West Indian lime juice for the Navy is now terminated; whether this contract has been replaced by a contract for a similar supply of Italian lemon juice from Sicily; if so, for how many years this contract is to run; and whether the interests of British Colonial lime producers will be borne in mind before any further contract is entered into?
§ Mr. AMERYNo long-period contracts are made for British West Indian lime juice or Italian lemon juice. The former is still purchased in quantities as required, and a considerable contract was, in fact, placed with Messrs. Rose and Company in January last. No lemon juice has been purchased since January, 1920, when a certain amount was obtained from Messrs. Rose for the purposes of an investigation into its anti-scorbutic properties. The answer to the last part of the question is in the affirmative.