§ 58. Lieut.-Colonel Bromley-Davenportasked the Minister of Food how much China tea has been imported into this country from China during the current year; how much is expected before the end of the current year; and whether imports will be freely permitted during 1947.
§ Mr. StracheyThe Ministry has authorised the import under licence of 2½ million lb. of tea from China during this year. About 1 million lb. has been purchased so far. World supplies of tea are subject to allocation by the International Emergency Food Council but the small quantities hitherto available from China have so far been excluded from allocation quotas. The International Emergency Food Council is to consider at an early date whether supplies of tea from China should be brought within the allocation scheme from the beginning of 1947.
§ 64. Mr. W. Fletcherasked the Minister of Food what steps are being taken to secure a fair share for this country of tea exports from the Dutch East Indies, as and when these are likely to become available.
§ Mr. StracheyWhile Indian and Ceylon teas continue under I.E.F.C. allocations, any exportable surplus—when it arises—from the Dutch East Indies would be similarly treated. We shall certainly take steps to see that we get our fair share.
93W
§ 65. Mr. Fletcherasked the Minister of Food what steps are being taken to secure a fair share in this country of tea from India and Ceylon, respectively, in the coming year; and what price is being paid to these countries.
§ Mr. StracheyThe entire exportable surplus of tea from India, Ceylon and British East Africa has been purchased by the British Government for the past five years and distributed under international allocation, firstly by the Combined Food Board, latterly by the International Emergency Food Council. It is expected that the Council will consider the allocations for the succeeding year as soon as reliable estimates of the size of the new crop are available. Negotiations for the purchase of the Indian and Ceylon crops have not been completed and the price to be paid has, therefore, not yet been determined.
§ 66. Mr. Fletcherasked the Minister of Food what tea stocks were in this country on 1st January, 1946, 1st June, 1946, and 1st October, 1946; and by what percentage consumption of tea has increased in each quarter of this year over the previous quarter.
§ Mr. StracheyIt would not be in the national interest that I should give the figures in regard to stocks for which the hon. Member asks. The percentage variations in the quantities of tea released from Ministry controlled stocks and from wholesalers' warehouses in the first three quarters of this year were: in the first quarter areduction of 2 per cent.; the second quarter a reduction of 2 per cent.; the third quarter an increase of 5 per cent.: in each case as against the previous quarter.