§ Mr. R. Morganasked the Minister of Food what tonnage of carrots of the 1944 crop has been purchased by his Ministry this season; of this total, how much was for consumption by the civil population; what tonnage was delivered against completed Ministry contracts for carrots purchased in the ground or as grown; and what tonnage was shown by the valuation in those completed contracts.
§ Colonel LlewellinUp to 15th March, 1945, my Department has purchased 71,124 tons of carrots of the 1944 crop, 2239W of which 13,000 tons were intended for civilian consumption in the United Kingdom and the balance for the Force's, 14,963 tons have been loaded from completed contracts of the type to which my hon. Friend refers, against a tonnage estimated at the time of inspection as 19,283. The deficiency relates to carrots purchased in the ground and is attributable to flooding in late autumn, frost damage during the recent severe weather, and normal wastage.