§ Mr. Bossomasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) why it was that the Hemp Controller of his Department laid down the price of British East African sisal as $331.88 per ton of 2,240 pounds when selling this to the cordage manufacturers of the U.S.A. when the world price was approximately $380 per ton on identical terms, thereby losing this country approximately $100,000;
(2) what quantity of British East African sisal was allocated to foreign markets during 1947 on the basis of the United Kingdom price of £81 4s. od. per ton ex ship U.K.; and if he is aware that the 113W world market price during the year averaged approximately £100 per ton; and why this undercharge of £15 per ton was made to the countries to whom this sisal was sold.
§ Mr. H. WilsonThe quantity of British East African sisal sold to foreign markets during 1947 on the basis of £81 4s. 0d. per ton for No. 1 Grade ex-ship United Kingdom was 6,450 tons. There is no world market price for sisal. The purchase of the whole output of sisal in Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika was made to ensure that the needs of the United Kingdom and of certain other countries for sisal for the manufacture of binder twine and other essential purposes should be met in so far as the supply of sisal permits.