§ Mr. BOTTOMLEYasked the Food Controller (1) whether he is aware that there are at present more than six months' stocks of tea in this country, and that supplies are now coming regularly forward; and whether, in view of this fact, he can see his way to remove the existing restrictions on sale and distribution, subject to the fixing of a maximum price and the making of Regulations to prevent the cornering and accumulation of stocks by wholesalers; and (2) whether he is aware that all the large multiple grocery companies are willing to sell tea in their branches throughout the Kingdom at from 2s. 4d. to 2s. 6d. per lb. of the same quality as that now being sold at 2s. 8d.; and whether he will state why they are not permitted to do so?
Colonel THORNEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if it is intended promptly to release the tea trade from control, and, if so, why?
Mr. ROBERTSAs the stocks of tea at present in bonded warehouse are sufficient to meet the demand for home consumption for approximately five months, and as supplies are now coming forward regularly, I have decided to suspend the Orders governing the distribution and price of tea, and am consulting the trade as to the precise date from which the suspension shall take effect. I anticipate that the arrangements which will be made with the trade will ensure that a very considerable quantity of good quality tea will be on sale to the public at prices below the present fixed price of 2s. 8d. per lb. As soon as possible I shall announce the date of the suspension of the Orders, and in the meantime consumers must continue to purchase tea only from the retailers with whom they288W are registered and at the fixed price of 2s. 8d. per lb. Effective steps will be taken to prevent the cornering and accumulation of stocks of tea wholesalers.
Mr. COOTEasked the Food Controller why he will not permit some of the stocks of high-grade teas under his control to be put upon the British market and sold for British consumption; and why only countries outside Britain are permitted to have these teas while the British people are obliged to use only the poorer qualities?
Mr. ROBERTSAll teas purchased by the Food Ministry are classified into three grades, A, B, and C, the last-named being the highest quality. These three grades are distributed in equal proportions to the wholesale trade. The tea reaches the consumer in the form of National Control Tea, which must be an average blend of the three grades. Certain quantities of the Ministry's stock are put up in public sale from time to time for export only. The brokers, acting on behalf of the Ministry of Food, are instructed that teas suitable for export are to be selected, and that none of the highest quality, or "C," grade is to be included in these sales. In this way all the high-grade teas imported into this country are retained for home consumption.