§ Mr. BOYCEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty the total amounts paid by his Department during 1930 for purchases of imported beef, imported mutton and/or lamb, and imported butter and cheese, respectively; and how much of these amounts was paid in respect of Empire products?
Mr. ALEXANDERThe total amount paid during 1930 for purchases of imported beef and mutton was approximately £300,000. Of this amount £15,000 was for local purchases at foreign ports, which may have been of foreign origin, but the remainder was in respect of Empire produce. The proportion of mutton was about 20 per cent. of the whole. The amounts paid for purchases of butter and cheese for Royal Naval Hospitals at home during 1930 were—butter, £2,300; cheese, £1,300. These supplies were all of home or Empire origin. As regards the service afloat; butter and cheese are not included in the standard ration. The men purchase such quantities of these foodstuffs as they require, from the canteen or other sources, out of their messing allowance. The Admiralty have no particulars of these purchases, but supplies of these items through the canteens are almost entirely of Empire origin.