§ Mr. FFRENCHasked whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that the Central Chamber of Agriculture made application to the Development Commissioners for a grant to establish the sugar-beet industry in Great Britain; whether the Commissioners have carefully considered the matter; and if they have yet arrived at any decision?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSENo application from the Central Chamber of Agriculture for a grant to establish the sugar-beet industry in England has reached the Commissioners at present, but the Commissioners have been considering the possibilities of beet sugar manufacture in England and have been in consultation with some of the Government Departments concerned in some preliminary questions of difficulty.