§ Colonel Ropnerasked the Minister of Food (1) what was the total financial loss sustained by his Department as a result of transactions in swedes between the 222W beginning of October, 1947, and the end of April, 1948;
(2) what was the quantity of swedes for human consumption the purchase of which was arranged by his Department between the beginning of October, 1947, and the end of April, 1948; what was the highest price and what was the average price per ton at which contracts for the purchase of swedes were entered into; what was the quantity sold back to farmers during the same period; and what was the average price obtained by his Department for swedes in the case of those sold back.
§ Mr. StracheyThe quantity of swedes purchased was 15,019 tons. Apart from a small quantity of selected swedes purchased at £7 10s. per ton, the highest prices paid were £7 per ton in England and Wales, and £5 10s. per ton in Scotland, the average price for all contracts entered into being £6 6s. 1d. per ton. Approximately 11,000 tons were sold back to the farmers with whom the contracts had been placed, at an average price of £2 19s. per ton and contracts for about 1,000 tons were cancelled with the consent of the farmer. Some part of the remaining 3,000 tons removed from the afrms and marketed at an average price of £2 16s. per ton may also have reached farmers for stock feed purposes. The total financial loss sustained by my Department on transactions in swedes during the period referred to, which may be regarded as the premium paid for insurance against the contingency of a vgetable shortage, is approximately £54,000.