Colonel THORNEasked the Food Controller whether the amount of imported bacon and hams last year totalled approximately 12,000,000 cwts., and that 1d. per lb. on this quantity represents roughly £6,000,000; whether, when he speaks of f.a.s. cost, he means free at store or free at ship; and whether he can indicate, approximately, how much per lb. bacon and hams cost in freight, insurance, landing charges, administrative charges, loss of weight, and any other items which go to make up the 2d. per lb. difference between the f.a.s. cost in America and the c.i.f. value in England?
§ Mr. McCURDYThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The expression f.a.s. means free alongside ship. As regards the last part of the question, the charges accruing during the month of November last (which is taken as an example) between the f.a.s. cost and the selling price were as follows, the figures quoted being per lb. and in decimals of Id.:
Freight .55 Insurance .55 Dock dues (including master porterage) .07 Shrinkage (before arrival) .17 Shrinkage (between arrival and sale) .33 Commission to importers .24 Carriage .11 Discount to purchasers .17 Claims and taint .16 Storage .21 Administration .37 Total 2.93
Colonel THORNEasked the Food Controller whether during the first eight months of last year 502,845 tons of bacon and hams were imported; whether the highest price paid for Wiltshire cut sides was 160s. per cwt., but considerable quantities were purchased as low as 133s. per cwt., or an average under Is. 4d. per lb.; whether the highest price paid for bellies was 165s. per cwt., and the lowest 129s., or an average under 1s. 4d. per lb.; whether Cumberland cut sides ranged from 140s. to 162s. per cwt., or an average of 1s. 4 5/28d. per lb.; whether short clear backs were from 136s. to 158s. per cwt., or under 1s. 4d. per lb.; hams from 120s. to 158s., or 1s. 3d. per lb.; shoulders from 1215W 107s. to 125s. per cwt., or about 1s. per lb.; picnics from 96s. to 101s. per cwt., or 10½d. per lb.; and a few sundry cwts. at 1s. 4d.; whether 457,000 tons were purchased before 6th June last at prices mostly approximating towards the lower quotations; and whether the figure of 1s. 4½d. per lb., indicated as the average price of American bacon for the first eight months of 1918, is the average of the highest prices paid for each respective class purchased, and not the average cost of the whole quantity purchased during the period?
§ Mr. McCURDYDuring the first eight months of last year 442,185 tons of bacon and ham were imported into Great Britain, of which 435,346 tons came from North America. It has not been possible in the time available for the figures of the prices paid for each cut, as quoted by the hon. and gallant Member, to be verified, but I propose to forward to him the information for which he asks as soon as possible. As regards the last part of the question, the figure of 1s. 4½d. per lb. quoted by the Ministry of Food represents the average cost of the two principal cuts, namely, Wiltshire and Cumberland sides, which may be taken as representative.