asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if it is true, as stated in a letter to the Press, that (a) 1/4½d. is the price paid by Tea Importers, Limited, for the lowest grade tea; (b) the price of this tea is 3/- per lb. to the wholesaler, and (c) the minimum retail price is from 3/3 per lb.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tea Prices.
Mr. Lynch
I have already informed the Deputy, in reply to questions he asked on the 27th November, that the average price paid by Tea Importers, Limited, for the low-grade teas bought in London was 1/4½d. a lb. but that I had no information as to retail prices charged for those teas or for blends containing them. The charge for the lowest grade teas supplied by Tea Importers, Limited., of which the teas in question formed part, was 3/- a lb.
Arising out of that reply and out of the reference in the question, it has been positively stated by a retailer of tea that in fact Tea Importers are charging 3/- per lb. and more than 3/-, for tea costing them 1/4½d. per lb. Does the Parliamentary Secretary consider that is a fair impost to place on the consumer?
Mr. Lynch
The retailer to whom the Deputy refers should know that only a limited amount of tea was available at 1/4½d. per lb. Tea Importers, Limited, had to purchase tea at a price very much in excess of 1/4½d. a lb. That tea, as well as the 1/4½d. a lb. tea, is now being made available at 3/- a lb.
I take it that the Parliamentary Secretary is aware that the person who made this allegation is a very responsible constituent of his and has been in the tea business for a long period. He has stated over his name in the public Press that a large bulk of the tea has, in fact, been bought at 1/4½d. a lb.
Mr. Lynch
I have no doubt whatever about the responsibility and the position of the man referred to. I would suggest, however, that it was not entirely without political inference that these letters were written, inasmuch as the person is a member of the Cork City Executive of the Fine Gael.
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Government will hardly say that there is political inference in trying to rescue the consumer from an impost of 1/7½d. a lb. that should not be there.
Leaving aside politicians and wholesalers, will you let us buy the tea?
Question No. 5.