§ 120. Mr. Dyeasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what have been the total costs involved in the transport and storage of sugar imported on Government account in 1953 and retained in this country in improvised stores such as Norfolk airfields; and what is the quantity of sugar still under such storage conditions.
§ Mr. NichollsIt is not the practice to give details of stocks, whether related to particular forms of storage or not. The cost of carriage and storage of sugar in 1953–54 shown in the Ministry of Food's published Trading Accounts was about £3½ million.
§ 121. Mr. Dyeasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the quantity of sugar purchased on his behalf in 1953 and stored in barges in Holland; how long the sugar was so stored; and what have been the total transport and storage charges.
§ Mr. NichollsNone of the sugar bought in 1953 on Government account was stored in barges in Holland. In 1954 and early 1955, however, about 300,000 tons of raw sugar was stored temporarily
208W
— Estimates for twelve months ending 31st March, 1956, included in April Budget (H.C. 63 VIII) Payments made up to 30th November, 1955 £ million £ million Agricultural Support Subsidies: Cereals— Wheat and Rye … … 26.0 20.4 Barley … … 10.4 4.0 Oats and Mixed Corn … … 12.5 Nil Home-Produced Eggs … … 25.6 10.1 Fatstock— Cattle … … 1.8 0.4 (a) Sheep … … 3.5 3.6 (a) Pigs … … 76.5 35.5 (a) Milk (excluding school and welfare milk) … 28.9 5.9 Wool … … 1.0 Nil Trading subsidies in implementation of agricultural guarantees: Home-produced shell eggs and egg product … 3.6 1.9 Potatoes … … 2.8 0.3 192.6 82.1 (a) These figures include payments made on 1st and 2nd December, 1955. in barges at Rotterdam; on average each consignment remained there for about four months. It is not the practice to give particulars of the cost of individual transactions, but as my right hon. Friend informed my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Walton (Mr. K. Thompson) on 8th November, 1954, the saving which resulted from the storage of sugar in barges in Continental ports compared with the cost in warehouses in this country was estimated to have been between 10s. and 20s. per ton.