asked the Minister of Food what is the total aggregate of salaries and allowances paid to members of his staff employed in the United States, including those in the British Supply Office, for the seven months ending 31st March, 1948; what reduction was made during that period of staff so employed; and how many are there now.

The total salaries and allowances paid to the Ministry of Food staff employed in the United States during the seven months ending 31st March, 1948, amounted to £36,215. The staff has been reduced by 28 during the period: on 31st March, 1948, the number employed was 42. During the seven months in question the British Supply Office was the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply. I understand however that the total salaries paid to the British Supply Office staff during this period amounted to approximately £170,000. The staff was reduced by 104, 300 being employed on 31st March, 1948.

Since there has been no purchase of food from the United States since last August, why is it necessary to keep £36,000 worth of Ministry of Food officials—40 or so—hanging about there doing nothing?

One reason is that we hope that the period in which there will be no food purchases from the United States may come to an end. The other reason is that there have been many important duties there, for example, the negotiation of the International Wheat Agreement.