asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the date upon which tea will be derationed and the price at which tea will be sold as from that date.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether his Department has formed any estimate as to the increase or decrease in the consumption of tea that will take place as a result of the removal of the subsidy on tea and the derationing thereof.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether his Department has formed any estimate as to the increase or decrease in the consumption of sugar that will take place as a result of the removal of the subsidy on sugar and the derationing thereof.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 12 and 13 together.

Tea will be derationed from and including the 5th July, and it is intended to revoke the Order which prescribes a uniform price for all tea from and including the same date. It is anticipated that a variety of blends of tea at varying prices will become available to consumers when, on the abolition of rationing, there is a return to conditions which will permit of competitive trading. It is too early to make a reliable forecast of the effects of derationing on the consumption of tea or sugar. The present anticipations are that there will be no appreciable change in consumption.

The Minister has not replied to the question I asked. I asked if he could give any indication what the price of tea would be.

I have explained to the Deputy that we are trying to get back to the pre-war practice under which a variety of blends of tea will be available at different prices.

What will the prices be?

The prices will vary according to the blend and the state of the market.

What will the average price be?

I have no idea.

Will it be controlled?

I told the Deputy that it would not be.

What does the Minister propose to do with the 22,000,000 lb. of tea in the hands of Tea Importers Limited?

grades of tea they have.

They will sell them to the different wholesalers. I understand that Tea Importers Limited are publishing a price list of the various

All of which prices will have to be submitted to the Minister for Finance and approved by him inasmuch as the deficit outstanding at the end of the proceedings will have to be met by way of a grant from the Exchequer. Is it the intention of the Minister or his colleague to have these prices submitted for examination?

Tea Importers Limited, which is a non-profit-making company, will endeavour to dispose of them without profit or loss and to replace them.

The Minister is aware that the average price of these teas was between 4/- and 6/- per lb.?

That may be so. Some of these teas are there for some time. It is possible that the average price would be around the figure the Deputy mentioned. I do not see what the average price has to do with it.

It is proposed to dispose of them without loss to the Treasury?

Yes.

What is the particular variety of tea that is coming in?

I think the Deputy will be able to get any variety he likes.

Will there be any control in regard to the price?

No. Tea Importers Limited are a non-profit-making company and there will be no question of any profit being made by that organisation. Therefore the teas will be sold to the wholesalers at the price paid by Tea Importers Limited.