§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Lord Privy Seal, pursuant to his reply of 30 June, Official Report, column 377, on what criteria the decision not to stock currently any South African products in the Refreshment Department was taken.
§ Mr. IrvingI have been asked to reply.
With the approval of the Catering Sub-Committee, the Refreshment Department's policy is primarily to purchase produce from EEC countries. Storage space is at a premium, and it is therefore difficult for the Department to stock all the selections of food which Members may require.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Lord Privy Seal if he will indicate, for each product of South African origin which ceased to be stocked by the Refreshment Department during the last 12 months, the difference in price between that product and its replacement from another source.
§ Mr. IrvingI have been asked to reply.
The only product of South African origin which ceased to be stocked by the Refreshment Department during the last 12 months was pears. It is impossible to give a price comparison between that product and a replacement from another source due to the substantial price fluctuations in the marketplace throughout the seasons.