§ 70. Mr. Llewellynasked the Minister of Food how many bananas arrived at Liverpool in the "Apapa" on or about 4th December; what proportion were too ripe to be sent to shops; on whose instructions, at whose expense and at what cost a free issue was made to some dockers; and whether on future occasions he will arrange for such distributions to be extended also to persons in need and suitable institutions.
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§ Mr. WebbAbout 71 tons, of which about 18 tons were not fit for sale. A few—but by no means all—of the bananas classified as unsaleable were fit to eat, but they were in no condition to be transported any distance from the docks, and the dockers, in accordance with what I believe is the usual custom, very sensibly ate them. I can, however, assure the hon. Member that whenever possible arrangements are made to send some of these bananas to local hospitals and institutions, and that there was no loss to the Exchequer, since losses on unsaleable fruit fall on the shippers.