HC Deb 25 April 1951 vol 487 cc74-6W
Mr. Russell

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a statement showing the quantity and value of goods bought in bulk from overseas by various Government Departments during 1950, together with a statement of the respective deliveries.

Mr. Bottomley

(pursuant to the reply given by the then President of the Board of Trade [OFFICIAL REPORT, 3rd April, 1951; Vol. 486, c. 9] supplied the following information): During the year a number of items reverted to private trade, and for these the figures relate to Government purchases up to the date of reversion.

RAW MATERIALS PURCHASED FROM OVERSEAS BY THE BOARD OF TRADE DURING 1950
Material Purchases Arrivals†
Tons '000 Value (f.o.b.) £'000 Tons '000
Timber 3,343.3 50,142 3,356.6
Raw Materials for Textiles* 166.3 24,266 165.3
Hides and Skins and Tanning Materials 4.3 890 31.8
Papermaking Materials 392.2 7,976 392.2
Materials for Fertilisers and for the manufacture of Sulphuric Acid 2,426.0 16,533 2,449.3
Miscellaneous 2.7 287 2.9
6,334.8 100,094 6,398.1
* Does not include raw cotton which is purchased by the Raw Cotton Commission.
† These figures include some items ordered previous to 1950.
METALS PURCHASED FROM OVERSEAS BY THE MINISTRY OF SUPPLY DURING 1950
Material Purchases Arrivals†
Tons '000 Value (f.o.b.) £'000 Tons '000
Aluminium 142.7 15,360 142.0
Chrome Ore 86.0 560 81.7
Copper (blister and electrolytic) 302.0* 46,634 295.1
Lead 126.0 11,635 171.9
Zinc 137.0 15,244 142.0
Finished Steel 319.1 11,262 210.5
1,112.8 100,695 1,043.2
* Excludes tonnages returned from toll refining overseas of Ministry copper and copper alloy scrap as refined copper.
† These figures include some items ordered previous to 1950.
COMMODITIES PURCHASED FROM OVERSEAS BY THE MINISTRY OF FOOD DURING 1950
Commodity Purchases (a) Arrivals*
Tons '000 Value (f.o.b.) £'000 Tons '000
Fruit and vegetables (b) 582 23,320 601
Fish (c) 34 9,610 30
Meat and Bacon (d) 1,142 143,363 1,133
Tea, Coffee and Cocoa 329 89,828 334
Cereals, Pulses, Starch and Animal Feedingstuffs 6,272 149,774 6,420
Sugar and Glucose 2,090 73,450 2,120
Milk Products, Eggs and Oils and Fats 2,567 252,813 2,586
13,016 742,158 13,224
NOTE:—
(a) Excludes purchases shipped direct for overseas consumption.
(b) Including canned fruit, dried fruit, edible nuts and fruit juices.
(c) Including canned fish.
(d) Including canned meat, poultry and rabbits.
The Ministry of Works have not bought from overseas during 1950.
* These figures include some items ordered previous to 1950.