§ 47. Mr. HOGGEasked the Prime Minister whether, as chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Food Supplies and Prices, he has received any communication from sugar-using manufacturers complaining that their inability to make forward contracts for sugar, to be delivered some months hence at prices substantially below those now asked by the Royal Commission on the Sugar Supply, is handicapping them, and must involve them in heavy losses; and whether he will impress upon the Royal Commission the importance of ending immediately the uncertainty which prevails?
The hon. Member further asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, the Debate on the Government's sugar policy having been postponed until after the Easter Recess, the 1394 Royal Commission on the Sugar Supply has yet come to any decision as to allowing manufacturers to make forward contracts for sugar; and if he is aware that the delay in regard to this matter is prejudicing the interests of various trades, preventing them from making arrangements for the future, and rendering them liable eventually to losses?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. McKenna)Neither the Government nor the Royal Commission on the Sugar Supply can give any positive assurance as to what the position of sugar may be in the autumn. There is nothing to prevent sugar-using manufacturers from making any forward contracts they can, subject to the prohibition of the importation of sugar being removed before the autumn or to their obtaining licences to import should the prohibition be then still in force. If, on the contrary, they prefer to trust to obtaining supplies from the Commission, the Commission has every reason to hope that the prices it will be charging in the autumn (if it be then still in being) will not be in excess of those now prevailing.
§ Mr. HOGGEWill my right hon. Friend say why it is that sugar, which is the only commodity of which the Government has taken control, is the one commodity which has risen higher in price than any other?
§ Mr. McKENNANo, Sir; my hon. Friend is mistaken in assuming sugar has risen higher than any other commodity. As a matter of fact, sugar before the Government took control of it—that is to say, in the early days of the War—rose 80 per cent., and it is the only commodity which has fallen in price since the first week of the War.
§ Mr. HOGGEIs my right hon. Friend aware that figures supplied by his colleague the President of the Board of Trade show it is larger?
§ Mr. McKENNAI think if my hon. Friend will look at the wholesale prices of wheat and sugar, he will find that the wholesale price of sugar has not risen quite as much as the price of wheat.
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether any licences for the importation of sugar have already been given, and if so, whether he will, in the form of a printed answer or otherwise, supply the information to the House?
§ Mr. McKENNALicences have only been given in respect of pre-war contracts, and in respect of contracts which were so near completion at the time of the prohibition that it was felt to be a special hardship not to allow the sugar to be imported. There has been no general grant of licences.
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINMay we have a list of the specific instances in which licences have been granted and the grounds on which they have been granted?
§ Mr. McKENNAThere is a question to be put to me later by an hon. Member on this point, and I will reply then.
§ Mr. STEEL-MAITLANDArising out of the Home Secretary's answer on another point, will he be able to give any assurance that the prohibition on the imports will be removed by the time any of these contracts have taken place, without which it is quite impossible to make them?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe existence of a prohibition depends solely upon the danger of enemy sugar being imported into this country. We have every reason to believe that in a very few months now, probably in less than two or three months, the danger of such importation will have absolutely passed away, and the moment it has passed away the prohibition will be taken off, but it is quite impossible for me to give any guarantee.
§ 79 and 80. Mr. STEEL-MAITLANDasked the Home Secretary (1) if he will grant a Return, as soon as the House reassembles after the recess, of the purchases made up to that date of sugar by the Government, stating the kind and quantity of sugar purchased in each case, together with the country of growth, the price paid, the dates of contract and of delivery, and any other material circumstances—e.g., whether f.o.b. or c.i.f., whether duty paid, etc.; and (2) if he will grant a Return, as soon as the House reassembles after the recess, showing the quantities of sugar out of the special purchases by the Government to refiners and others sold in each week since this operation was undertaken; and the average selling price in each week obtained for the various classes of sugar?
§ Mr. McKENNASubject to some slight modifications, I think I shall be able to give the hon. Member all the particulars for which he asks.