HC Deb 05 February 1951 vol 483 cc167-8W
Sir R. Glyn

asked the Minister of Food what has been the total tonnage of groundnuts purchased by his Department from West African producers this season; at what price; and how does this figure compare with what was paid in 1948–49–50.

Mr. Webb

The West African groundnut season is not yet over, but up to the middle of January my Department had bought from the Produce Marketing Companies of Nigeria, The Gambia and Sierra Leone the following quantities: Shelled Groundnuts, 127,000 tons; unshelled groundnuts, 49,750 tons. The prices paid this season and in the two preceding seasons are as follows:

£'s per long ton c. &f. U.K.
— 1950–51 1949–50 1948–49
Shelled … 70 53 55
Unshelled … 55 43 45
These are prices paid to the Marketing Companies; my Department does not buy directly from the producers.