§ MR. LOUGH (Islington, W.)To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the number of sugar refineries and the number of hands employed therein in the United Kingdom in the years 1902 and 1908 respectively, and what is the annual cost of conducting these refineries in bond.
(Answered by Mr. Churchill.) The supervision of sugar refiners in the United Kingdom by the Customs Department commenced on 1st September, 1903, when fifteen were placed under bond. The number of refineries now under bond is thirteen. The estimated annual cost to the Crown of conducting refineries in bond is £15,245. There is no official information as to the number of persons employed in the sugar refineries.