§ 15. Mr. Weitzmanasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why large stocks of shoes, boots, sandals, candles, tyres, soap and other articles are being offered for sale by tender in Cairo, where they are in great supply, by the U.N.R.R.A. office there; and whether steps will be taken to put such articles to use where there is a shortage in various parts of Europe.
§ Mr. MayhewI am informed that supplies now being sold were not purchased as individual items by U.N.R.R.A., but are the residue of a mixed consignment of goods taken over in bulk from surplus military stocks. For this reason they16W either do not meet the requirements of the recipient countries who have planned to spend their limited budgets with U.N.R.R.A. on more essential items, or, where they do meet existing country programmes, owing to transport or other economic reasons, the requirements can be better supplied from other sources. The proceeds of sale will, of course, be used to meet the other requirements of the Administration.