HC Deb 30 April 1951 vol 487 c115W
Mr. J. Morrison

asked the Minister of Food if he will publish a list of the amounts and prices per ton of all imports of meat in the past 12 months which have been bought by his Department in a single transaction, and not as part of a long-term contract; and for the total loss incurred by the sale of these consignments at the controlled home prices.

Mr. Webb

During the year ended 31st March, 1951, my Department purchased 7,156 tons of carcase meat and offal from countries with which we have no long-term arrangements, representing 1.17 per cent. by weight of the total purchases of imported carcase meat and offal. The net loss incurred on the sale of these supplies was about £538,000. It is not my Department's normal practice to disclose purchase prices, and it would be against the public interest to do so in this case.