§ 90. Mr. Willeyasked the Minister of Food subject to what conditions stocks of Australian and Californian raisins have recently been sold by his Department to foreign buyers.
Dr. HillContracts were drawn up by the Ministry's agents, the National Association of Dried Fruit Port Services, Ltd., on whose advice the fruit was sold to the Continent. The contracts provided that the fruit must be used for manufacturing purposes only and not be resold to this country.
§ 91. Mr. Willeyasked the Minister of Food on what date Australian and Californian raisins were last sold by his Department to British traders; and on what date it was agreed to sell Australian and Californian raisins to foreign buyers.
Dr. HillThe contract for the sale of Australian raisins was signed on 14th May, 1954. Small sales continued to be made to the home trade up to that time. The contract for Californian raisins of54W the 1952 crop was signed on 22nd November, 1954. Sales of Californian raisins of the 1953 crop continue.
§ Mr. Grimondasked the Minister of Food (1) what steps were taken to inform merchants in Great Britain that he was prepared to consider much lower tenders for his stock of Australian raisins, which had been offered at £70 per ton and eventually sold at £30 per ton;
(2) what steps were taken to inform merchants in Great Britain that he was prepared to consider much lower tenders for his stock of Californian raisins, which had been offered at £85 per ton and eventually sold at £41 per ton.
Mr. AmoryThe Ministry's stocks of dried fruit are disposed of through the normal trade channels by the National Association of Dried Fruits Port Services Ltd, acting as agents for the Ministry. The fruit is offered to brokers who are told by the Association of the Ministry's selling policy and whose business and interest it is to keep their customers informed of this.