§ Mr. Ian Harveyasked the Minister of Materials what effect the recent decline of some commodity prices will have upon his Department's Estimates for the current financial year.
§ Sir A. SalterIn consequence of the conditions which have affected trading this year I am afraid it will be necessary for me to seek fairly large supplementary provision for the trading activities of the Ministry of Materials for the current financial year. An additional sum will also be needed for purchases for the strategic reserve. I am not yet in a position to forecast the sums which will be required, but Supplementary Estimates will be presented at the earliest opportunity.