§ 79. Mr. G. Thomasasked the Minister of Food how far any alteration is proposed in the tea ration; and whether his negotiations with Ceylon and India concerning the supply of tea are now concluded.
§ 87. Colonel Ropnerasked the Minister of Food whether he will make a statement with regard to his negotiations with the Governments of India and Ceylon for the purchase of tea; and how far he estimates that he will be able to maintain the tea ration at its present level.
§ Mr. WebbWe have reached settlement in our negotiations with the Governments of India and Ceylon on the basis for our purchases of tea this year. We shall be paying an increase of 4d. over the delivery price for 1949. We have not yet concluded contracts with individual producers, and I cannot at present give any firm estimate of the delivery of tea we shall get this year. The tea ration, like other ration, is reviewed from time to time and if a change is necessary an announcement will be made in the usual way