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53.
Mr. Erroll
asked the Minister of Food what is the reason for the surcharge of £11 5s. per ton levied on the 15,000 tons of Polish farina being imported to this country at a cost of £30 per ton.
Mr. Strachey
The price charged by the Ministry of Food for starch is based upon the weighted average cost of starch to the Ministry. The Polish farina to which the hon. Member refers is only a small part of the total supply.
Mr. Erroll
What is the point of taxing this essential raw material for the textile export industry? The surcharge is nothing less than a tax.
Mr. Strachey
I hope my reply made it clear that there was no tax. We pass on the supply at the cost to ourselves on the average.