21.
asked the Minister of Food the quantity and value of each group of commodities bought in bulk from overseas by his Department in the year 1951; and to what extent he estimated that they will be varied in 1952.
In reply to the first part of the Question, I will, with permission, circulate a table of figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
I cannot yet forecast the comparable figures for 1952.Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that for many years the Conservative Party have campaigned against bulk purchase as being the principal cause of the rise in the cost of living? Will he, therefore, explain why he continues that policy?
If the hon. Gentleman puts a Question down. All I have done is to answer the Question on the Paper.
Following is the information:
| IMPORTS OF FOOD AND FEEDING STUFFS BY THE MINISTRY OF FOOD, IN 1951, ACCORDING TO MINISTRY RECORDS | ||
| Commodity Group | 1951 Imports | |
| '000 tons | £'000 f.o.b. | |
| Cereals | 7,280 | 203,316 |
| Sugar and glucose | 2,236 | 89,790 |
| Meat and bacon | 763 | 117,116 |
| Milk products and eggs | 646 | 143,308 |
| Oilseeds, oils and fats | 1,773 | 157,591 |
| All other food and feed | 1,546 | 96,003 |
| Total | 14,244 | 807,124 |