§ 73. Mr. T. Reidasked the Minister of Food what he estimates is likely to be the annual total difference in cost between the amounts paid by him for tea, copra and coconut oil from Ceylon under the contracts just concluded and the previous contract, respectively, for the usual quantity of these imports.
§ Mr. StracheyIn the case of copra and coconut oil the contract signed in 1946 is still in operation. It is not possible to estimate imports during 1947, but on the basis of imports in 1946 the estimated increase in total cost would be about £200,000 for copra and about £26,000 for coconut oil. Tea imports from Ceylon are estimated to cost £3,900,000 more in 1947 than in 1946, on the assumption that imports will continue at the same level.