§ Sir J. Mellorasked the Minister of Food the average monthly domestic consumption of soap per head of the population of the United Kingdom during the first six months of 1938 and 1946, respectively; and the corresponding consumption in industry.
§ Mr. StracheyI regret that I am unable to give the hon. Member the figures in the form asked for or for the first six months of 1938. I hope that the following figures will serve his purpose. In the year ended 30th June, 1939, it is estimated that the domestic consumption of fat in soap was approximately 15 oz. per head per calendar month. During the first six months of 1946 the corresponding figure is 10 oz. In the year ended 30th June, 1939, it is estimated that about 80 thousand tons of fat was consumed in soap by industry. During the first six months of 1946 industry consumed fat in soap at the rate of about 70 thousand tons per annum.
§ Sir J. Mellorasked the Minister of Food what quantity of soap has been exported from the United Kingdom during each of the last three quarters, excluding soap for His Majesty's Forces; to what destination has it been consigned; and why was it exported.
119W
§ Mr. Strachey185,721 cwt. of soap were exported during the fourth quarter, 1945, as follows:
Cwt. Burma … 78,397 Netherlands … 33,529 Belgium … 14,976 France … 14,240 Germany … 9,842 Straits Settlement … 9,442 Federated Malay State … 6,588 Channel Islands … 4,995 Italy … 2,362 Dutch West Indies … 1,532 Norway … 993 Other countries … 8,825 107,312 cwt. were exported during the first quarter, 1946, as follows:
Cwt. Netherlands … 45,338 Malta … 11,287 Germany … 9,515 Straits Settlement … 7,471 Channel Islands … 4,843 Aden … 4,597 Norway … 4,299 Belgium … 3,719 Gibraltar … 1,926 Other countries … 14,317 Full details of soap exported during the second quarter, 1946, are not yet available but the quantity of soap exported in April and May was 83,274 cwt. as follows:
Cwt. Iraq … 11,074 Malta … 10,014 Germany … 8.809 Anglo Egyptian Sudan … 6,679 Belgium … 6,249 Straits Settlement … 6,501 Egypt … 3,344 Gibraltar … 2,215 Dutch West Indies … 1,887 Palestine … 2,316 Italy … 1,690 Burma … 1,396 Other countries … 20,100 The heavy exports to Netherlands, Burma, Belgium, France and Norway during the end of 1945 and beginning of 1946, were made in accordance with arrangements with the Combined Food Board and were taken into account when our oils and fats allocation was fixed. We are under obligation to export soap to Colonies, Dependencies and Middle East countries as their requirements were also taken into account when our Combined Food Board allocation was fixed.
It has not been possible to exclude the figures of soap exported to His Majesty's Forces in the various countries but it is estimated that the figures quoted above include about 20,000 cwt. per quarter for 120W His Majesty's Forces. All the soap exported to Germany and Italy with the exception of a very small quantity exported by the Council of British Societies for Relief Abroad was for His Majesty's Forces and the Control Commission.