§ 71. Mr. HOGGEasked the Minister of Food whether in numerous cases in recent weeks the Sugar Commission has sanctioned the cancellation of orders for sugar; whether the Commission refused to allow Messrs. George Mellis and Son, Limited, of Aberdeen, to cancel an order for 100 bags of sugar; whether on this firm insisting on cancellation the Commission intimated that it was instructing refiners to make no further deliveries to them; and, if so, whether the Commission can justify their unfair and oppressive treatment of Messrs. Mellis?
§ The MINISTER of FOOD (Mr. McCurdy)The reply to the first part of the question is in the negative, to the second and third parts in the affirmative. I see no grounds for the suggestion that the action of the Sugar Commission in compelling the performance of a contract was in the circumstances of the case either unfair or oppressive.
§ Mr. HOGGEDoes my right hon. Friend say that the Sugar Commission has not sanctioned cancellation?
§ Mr. McCURDYNo. I say that the fact that in some cases the Sugar Commission may see fit that the contract should be cancelled is no ground for making it a rule to cancel all contracts.
§ 78. Mr. WATERSONasked the Minister of Food if he can make a statement as to sugar de-control?
§ Mr. McCURDYI am unable at present to make a statement on this matter.
§ Mr. WATERSONWhen may we expect a statement?
§ Mr. McCURDYThe matter is at present under consideration, and I hope to be able to make a statement at no distant date.
§ Mr. WATERSONCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Cabinet discussed this matter?
§ Mr. McCURDYYes.
§ Mr. LAMBERTMay we expect that sugar will be de-controlled within a reasonable time?
§ Mr. McCURDYOh, yes, I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that sugar will not be de-controlled for an unreasonable time.
§ Mr. LAMBERTIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that many of us think that he has unreasonably controlled sugar up to now, and is he aware that the public consider that sugar would be cheaper if his activities were to cease?
§ Mr. McCURDYYes. My attention is constantly being called to criticisms of the character indicated by the right hon. Gentleman. I can assure him that most careful attention is paid to those criticisms, and I trust that where they are well founded we profit by them.