Mr. De la Bèreasked the Minister of Food whether in connection with supplies of raw cocoa, cocoa beans, he will now consider allowing the West African Produce Control Board to sell direct to chocolate manufacturers in the United Kingdom; and if he will explain his reasons for hitherto retaining the existing method by which his Ministry act as middlemen.
§ Mr. StracheyThe bulk purchase of raw cocoa by the Ministry was introduced shortly after the outbreak of war to secure co-ordination and economy of resources in procurement and first-hand distribution. Since the war, the world demand for raw cocoa has far exceeded32W supply and in order to maintain the controlled prices of sweets containing chocolate or other cocoa products, we have found, and still find it necessary to continue to buy in bulk and to allocate supplies among the manufacturers at fixed prices. The West African Produce Control Board has not dealt in cocoa since the 1946–47 season, and we buy from the London companies of the local Marketing Boards.