70. Mr. SWANasked the Minister of Food what is the weekly consumption of sugar in the United Kingdom; what is the estimated quantity now in this country; how much of it is still under the control of the Sugar Commission; and what was the average cost per pound?
The MINISTER of FOOD (Mr. McCurdy)In reply to the first part of the question, the average consumption of sugar imported by the Government is at present about 21,000 tons per week. This does not include British colonial sugar or sugar for the use of brewers, with which the Government does not deal. In reply to the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the statistics compiled by His Majesty's Customs and Excise, which show that on 1st October the total quantity of sugar in bond in the United Kingdom was 328,950 tons. Of this total, 240,684 tons belonged to the Sugar Commission. As regards the remaining part of the question, the labour involved in calculating the average cost of specific parcels of sugar remaining in stock on any given date is not, in my opinion, justified, but I may say that the average cost of existing stocks of sugar purchased by the Sugar Commission is slightly in excess of the price at which the Commission is selling to-day, in conformity with its principle of adjusting its selling price to the ruling world price.
§ Mr. W. THORNEIn view of the large amount of sugar in stock, can the Minister of Food see his way to increase the ration per head?
§ Mr. PERCYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that just before the coal strike controlled sugar was selling at 1s. 2d. 203 per 1b., while uncontrolled pure cane sugar was selling at 10d. per lb., a difference of 4d. per lb.?
Mr. McCURDYI am not quite clear to what grade of sugar the hon. Member's question refers. If he will communicate with me, I shall be glad to go into the matter.
Colonel PENRY WILLIAMSCan the right hon. Gentleman say what stock he now holds compared with the normal stocks?