§ Mr. Parkerasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what price per ton was paid to growers under contract for cabbage, savoy and winter, during February; what was the net price returned to the Ministry per ton from these sales; what was the total tonnage handled and the net gain or loss on the transaction; and what were the prices at which this cabbage was retailed in London, Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham and Cardiff?
§ Mr. MabaneThe prices paid to growers, under contracts placed by my Department last autumn, for savoy and winter cabbages delivered in February were, according to the type of contract, £18 or £22 per ton for savoys and £16 or £20 per ton for winter cabbages. The average price returned to the Ministry for these cabbages, after allowing for agents' commission, was £5 18s. 4d. per ton. Savoy and winter cabbages marketed on behalf of the Ministry during February amounted to 1,185 tons I cwt. Including agents' charges and transport costs, the net loss was £19,360 12s. 6d. From the returns available the average retail prices appear to have been about 2½d. per lb. in London; about 3¼d. per lb. in Liverpool, about 3d. per lb. for winter cabbage and 4d. per lb. for savoys in Manchester, about 3d. per lb. in Birmingham, and between 2½d. and 2¾d. in Cardiff.