§ 51. Mr. WATTasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his attention has been called to the position of the confectionery trade in the country from the fact that the Army and Navy canteens are now drawing from 10 to 121 per cent. of the quarter supplies, a. compared with 1915, now given to the trade; and can he see his way to supply the Army and Navy demands without infringing the 25 per cent. allowed, in view of the ruin threatening many in the trade?
§ Mr. CLYNESThe supplies of sugar, actual and prospective, do not permit of more than 25 per cent. of the amount of sugar so used in 1915. being now employed in sweet-making, and the demands of the Navy and. Army Canteen Board must be satisfied from the quantities of sweets that can be produced accordingly. Steps have been taken to ensure that the demands of the Board are not unreasonably large, and. that they are not enforced in such a way as to inflict upon the trade any greater hardships than the position of necessity entails.