§ Mr. MOLTENOasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether in fixing the profits of the retailers of national-control tea, the multiple shops are to receive 4½d. for each pound sold and the retail or small grocers are to receive only 2d.; and, if so, whether he can see his way to rectify this unequal treatment and make an arrangement fair to all?
§ Mr. CLYNESThe comparative profits are not as stated in the first part of the hon. Member's question. The multiple shop companies that buy tea on the market will receive 4½. a pound, ½d. being for expenses incidental to purchase on the market and the remaining 4d. gross retail profit, which must cover the cost of blending and packing, estimated at2d. a pound. The retailer who does not buy on the market will not receive the ½d. for expenses incidental to such buying, but if he does his own blending and packing he will receive the same gross retail profit as the multiple shop, namely, 4d. a pound. If the blending is done for the retailer by the wholesaler from whom he buys the retailer's profit will be reduced by ½d. a pound, the cost of blending. If both blending and packing arc done by the wholesaler the retailer's profit will be reduced by 2d. a pound, the cost of blending and packing. It will be seen. therefore, that there is no inequality of treatment.