§ Flight-Lieutenant Challenasked the Minister of Food whether he can give any estimate of the present amount of coffee being exported from this country to the Continent in bulk, and by civilians and members of the Armed Forces, respectively; and whether, in view of the shortage of coffee in this country and the fact that much of that which reaches the Continent benefits the black market there, he proposes to take any further steps to control this traffic.
§ Colonel LlewellinDuring the past twelve months approximately 13,000 tons in bulk, mainly for military or relief purposes. In addition, very small quantities have been allowed to travellers for their personal consumption. I have no reason to think that these supplies benefit the black market in liberated countries. The export of coffee to the Continent in any other way is illegal. No estimates are available as to the quantity of any such illegal exports. We do our best to stop them.