§ 88. Lieut.-Colonel Bromley-Davenportasked the Minister of Food how many tins of fish have been bought by his Department during 1949 and 1950 from European countries; how many of such tins have been exported; how many have been bought by consumers in this country; how many are still in stock; how many have been returned to the countries of origin as unsaleable,; and what has been the estimated cost to the taxpayer of this transaction.
§ Mr. F. WilleyAbout 162,000,000 cans of fish were bought by my Department during 1949 and 1950 from European countries. During that period about 110 million cans were sold for consumption in this country, and about 9,400,000 cans were re-exported. These quantities were drawn partly from Ministry stocks and partly from new purchases, but it would not be in the national interest to give the figures of unsold stock. All the cans re-exported were returned to the country or origin but there was no loss to the taxpayer on this transaction.