§ 30. Mr. HURDasked the Minister of Agriculture if his Department has obtained information as to the means taken in Czechoslovakia and other sugar-beet growing countries to remedy the effluent difficulty which is now impeding the provision of new sugar-beet factories in this country; and whether he will make information on the subject available for Members of this House and the public?
Mr. GUINNESSYes, Sir. Reports have been obtained from all the principal beet growing countries. It does not appear from these reports that they have succeeded in overcoming the difficulties which confront sugar manufacturers in this country and elsewhere in the disposal of effluents. I trust, however, that the information contained in these reports may facilitate scientific investigations which are being conducted by the manufacturers and the Government in co-operation. With reference to the second part of the question, a summary of the information acquired from abroad was furnished to each factory some months ago, and similar action will shortly be taken with regard to information more recently acquired, which has already been placed at the disposal of the experts engaged in the investigation of the problem. I shall take an early opportunity of making available to the public any useful information which may result from these investigations.
§ Brigadier-General Sir HENRY CROFTMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether his attention has been called to the enormously increased imports of refined sugar from Czechoslovakia,, and will he call the attention of the right hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the matter?