29. Captain Arthur Evansasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is now in a position to indicate what is the outcome of the conference of the International Sugar Council and in what way the decisions reached are likely to benefit the West Indian and other sugar-producing Colonies?
Mr. M. MacDonaldMy hon. and gallant Friend will have seen the communiqué issued by the International Sugar Council last Monday, recording the agreements which were reached. As a result, the surplus production of certain Colonies in the current year can be absorbed with only a very small carryover into next year, and there is a good prospect that in the coming year there will be a substantial rise in the price of sugar. The price is already 6d. per cwt. above the price prevailing when the Council met a fortnight ago.