§ 101. Mr. LOUGHasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether tablets, cubes, and cut loaf sugar is obtainable in America; whether the price in this country has now been raised to 6d. per lb.; and whether he will make arrangements to import these sorts and so prevent a further enhancement of prices?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe price of cubes has been raised to 6d. per lb., but no further enhancement of price is anticipated. The Commission has already purchased all the tablets, cubes, and cut loaf sugar available in America at reasonable prices, and no further supplies of an appreciable quantity could be procured, even if excessive prices were to be paid.
§ 102. Mr. LOUGHasked whether the Royal Commission on Sugar have received a request from Ireland to import American crystals and standard granulated sugar to meet the special requirements of that country for coarse sugars; whether they can see their way to procure a sufficient supply to meet this demand; and, if not, whether they are prepared to allow the free importation into Ireland of the descriptions of sugar required by its inhabitants?
§ Mr. McKENNARequests of the kind described have been received from Ireland, as also from many other parts of the United Kingdom. But the Commission has not found it possible to undertake to provide special kinds of sugar to meet all the varying predilections of different markets, and it does not think that in such an emergency as the present it can be regarded as a serious hardship that consumers should be asked to forego preferences which are the outcome merely of fashion and habit, and have no basis of intrinsic difference in the quality of sugars.
§ Mr. LOUGHWould there be any objection to allowing those people to get it themselves if they could?
§ Mr. McKENNAThey could not get it except at higher prices than they are now charged.
§ 113. Mr. SHERWELLasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if granulated sugar is sold by the Royal Commission on condition that the retail price shall not exceed a fixed maximum price per pound; and, if so, will he say what that maximum price is?
§ Mr. McKENNARoyal Commission sugar is sold to dealers on the condition that the buyers shall resell at a profit of not more than 2½ per cent, on sales for cash and immediate delivery. The proper retail prices for sugars were specified in the Notice which appeared in yesterday's Press.
§ Mr. SHERWELLIs my right hon. Friend aware of the fact that sugar is being sold by retail in the central district of London much in excess of that?
§ Mr. McKENNAMy hon. Friend has been good enough to report a case yesterday of that kind, and inquiry will be made into it.