asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the quantity of tea on hand, in transit, and on order on 31st January last, and the average price per lb. at which the last purchase of tea has been made.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Stocks and Price of Tea.
Mr. Lemass
The position on the 31st January, 1958, as regards stocks and deliveries of tea purchased by Tea Importers Ltd. was as follows:—
In store in Ireland, 11,800,000 lb.; in transit from origin, 3,800,000 lb.; at foreign ports, 2,400,000 lb.; for delivery against contracts, 220,000 lb.
The last purchase of tea made by the company in January, 1958, was a relatively small quantity of plain tea. The Deputy will appreciate that, apart from the fact that the disclosure of the price paid for a single purchase of tea would be misleading, it would be contrary to the commercial interests of Tea Importers Ltd. to reveal information of this nature relating to its day-to-day activities.