§ Captain Kerbyasked the President of the Board of Trade what are the proportionate imports into the United Kingdom of tea from Assam, Nyasaland and Kenya; and what alternative sources of supply exist, other than Ceylon.
§ Mr. ErrollThe proportions for the period January—October, 1962, were:
Country of Consignment Percentage of Total U.K. Imports of Tea *India … 45 *Rhodesia and Nyasaland … 5 Kenya … 4 Ceylon … 33 Other countries … 13 * Imports from Assam and from Nyasaland are not separately distinguished in the trade returns. It is estimated that about 80 per cent. of the imports from India originate from North India. In view of the large proportion of tea imports coming from North India, it would not be possible to find alternative sources of supply for these imports.