68. Mr. T. WILSONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if he is aware that in many thousands of working men's families a portion of the sugar received under the rationing scheme has been saved for the purpose of preserving rhubarb and fruit; and will he say whether sugar so saved is or will be considered hoarding?
§ Mr. CLYNESIt has been publicly announced that sugar proved to have been saved from weekly rations will not be regarded as hoarding, and that, if the purpose of this saving is for jam making, it is immaterial whether the fruit to be preserved is grown or purchased by the preserver.
Mr. WILSONWill the hon. Gentleman see that all local food committees are acquainted with that fact?
§ Mr. CLYNESCertainly.
§ 70. Mr. BOWERMANasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if he is aware that an application made by the Town Clerk of Deptford on behalf of a resident of that borough, whose doctor certified that his patient required extra sugar in the invalid food supplied to him, has been refused by the Ministry; and whether further consideration will be given to this and similar appli- 616 cations, with a view to authorising food officers to grant permits for reasonable additional supplies of sugar per week for invalids upon the production of medical practitioners' certificates?
§ Mr. CLYNESThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Extra sugar is only necessary and only granted in cases where invalids are unable to swallow, and have to be fed by tube with concentrated nourishment. The place of sugar as a condiment can be taken by glucose or saccharine.