asked the Minister of Food what is the average price at which soya beans are bought by his Department; and at what price they are sold to manufacturers in the United Kingdom.

Soya beans are sold to manufacturers at £59 per ton, but my Department is a trading concern, and I am not prepared to disclose the prices at which we are buying.

Although I suppose that within the meaning of the words the right hon. Gentleman's Department is a trading concern—though I do not think it would be accepted as such by any successful trading concern—is it not simple to ask the producers what price they get? Is it not a fact that 34s. per cwt. is what the producer gets and does not the Minister consider that the margin between that price and 59s. is a little too much'?

All I can say is that I thought the profit was a very fair one.

Are we to understand that the Government consider that the difference between 34s. and 59s. is a very fair profit?

I am not necessarily accepting the figure of £34 per ton.

What is it?