70. Major GEORGE PEELasked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the desirability of providing non-alcoholic drinks for harvesters in the coming harvest, and, in view of the relative failure of the fruit crop and of the consequent liberation of sugar which would otherwise have been used for making jam, he can see his way to allocate more sugar for the manufacture of non-alcoholic drinks during the period of harvest?
§ The MINISTER of FOOD (Mr. Clynes)The need for conserving the sugar stocks 414 is so great that I am unable to authorise special issues of sugar for the purpose indicated.
§ 75. Sir F. FLANNERYasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his attention has been called to the fact that in the case of the licensed house known as the "Chequers," in the village of Goldhanger, Essex, far in the country and in the midst of agriculture, the shortage of harvest beer has been the cause of complaints by the men and by the rector on their behalf; whether, in these circumstances, he can arrange for larger supplies of beer to be available than one and a-half barrels per week for sixty harvest men, such increased allowances being made immediately available in view of the short rations and laborious work of the men and the approach of heavy harvest labour; and whether the brewing of luxury beer will in future be restricted so as to increase the supply of harvest beer without increase in the consumption of grain?
§ Mr. CLYNESThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. Additional supplies of beer for harvest purposes have been and are being allocated to each agricultural district. The brewing of luxury beer has already been extensively reduced in order to provide more of the lighter qualities for the industrial classes, and it is impossible to increase the supply of harvest beer without increasing the consumption of grain.
§ Sir F. FLANNERYDoes my right hon. Friend suggest to the House that, in view of the heavy harvest, the supply of a barrel and a half per week for sixty harvest men is sufficient; and will he not take some definite steps to improve the condition of these men in this regard during harvest time?
§ Mr. CLYNESI will not dogmatise in my answer as to what is precisely a sufficient quantity in any given area, but my answer must be taken as implying that larger quantities are being distributed in the agricultural areas this year than last year.
§ Sir F. FLANNERYWill the right hon. Gentleman give attention to this specific allocation in this special district and deal with the matter accordingly?
§ Mr. CLYNESI shall be glad to take into account the conditions of any special district.
§ Mr. FLAVINWill that special allocation apply to harvesting in Ireland as well as in England? [HON. MEMBERS: "No!"] It is part of the Empire, anyhow?