HC Deb 25 March 1948 vol 448 cc383-4W
Mr. Chamberlain

asked the Minister of Food what proportion of the amount of £1,449,298, paid in respect of the year ended 31st March, 1947, to agent firms or organisations in the fruit and vegetable trade, whose functions have or had been partly or wholly assumed by the Government, is in the nature of pure compensation, and what proportion represents physical services rendered, what those services are or were, and whether these payments were made only to individuals or firms with licensed selling premises.

Mr. Strachey

The amount of £1,449,298 paid in respect of the year ended 3rst March, 1947, was paid to agent firms or organisations in the fruit and vegetable trade for physical services rendered on fresh fruit imported by my Ministry. These imports during the period in question aggregated approximately 600,000 tons. No part of the payment is in the nature of compensation and the whole of it represents remuneration for services rendered. The following duties are performed under the agency agreements:

  1. (a) Taking all necessary weights on landing and making all necessary examinations.
  2. (b) Arranging for such re-coopering as required.
  3. (c) Taking delivery on behalf of the Minister, agreeing classification with shippers and reporting thereon to the Minister.
  4. (d) Supervising any necessary storage and reporting on the condition of produce.
  5. (e) Arranging for storage accommodation and/or cartage.
  6. (f) Classifying the produce into selling types and grades.
  7. (g) Allocating and selling the produce to buyers, issuing delivery orders and arranging for delivery, including all necessary handling services until loaded for transport to the buyers.
  8. (h) Invoicing to and collecting payment from buyers, and accounting to the Minister for the proceeds, on a del credere basis.
  9. (i) Dealing with claims by buyers against the Minister for deficiencies in quantity, condition, etc.
  10. (j) Supplying such reports as may be required by the Minister. The payments in question were made only to individuals or firms licensed by the Ministry.