HC Deb 03 February 1947 vol 432 cc279-80W
84. Sir W. Smithers

asked the Minister of Food if, in view of the fact that the price of linseed oil is being raised to £200 a ton, castor oil firsts to £180 and seconds to £176, sperm oil to £125, rape oil to £190, all showing recent and large increases, he will state the stocks held in Britain and their purchase price, and explain these sharp rises.

Mr. Strachey

For the reasons I have given on a number of previous occasions, I cannot disclose the stock position. The new prices just announced are based on the estimated weighted cost of the various oils under our current import programme.