HC Deb 27 June 1939 vol 349 cc180-1
3. Mr. Thorne

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can now state the decision of the International Sugar Council in connection with the importation of more sugar into this country and what extra tonnage will be allowed by the International Sugar Council to be imported?

Mr. Stanley

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for the Isle of Ely (Mr. de Rothschild) on 20th June last.

Mr. Thorne

Has there been no alteration since that last answer was given?

Mr. Stanley

All that has been asked for has been released.

15. Colonel Arthur Evans

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of the additional 153,000 metric tons of raw sugar which was allocated to the British Dominions and Colonies at the recent meeting of the International Sugar Council, will come from the Dominions and Colonies, respectively; and how much of this supply is actually available from each source for immediate shipment so as to be available in this country before the end of August next when the present quota year expires?

Mr. Stanley

The Colonies' share of the total of 153,265 metric tons of additional quotas recently approved for Empire countries by the International Sugar Council is 110,365 metric tons and that of the Dominions 42,900 metric tons. The Council have already been informed that 11,000 tons of the quotas of the Colonial Empire will not be available for shipment and I understand that there may be a further small short shipment from this source which, however, can, according to my information, be made good from Dominion sources. It is anticipated that the whole of the additional quotas allocated to the British Dominions will be shipped before 31st August when the quota year ends.

Colonel Evans

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the combined long tonnage of available Australian and Fiji sugar is 170,000; that it cannot possibly be shipped before the middle of July; that in the meantime there may be an acute shortage in this country and a scarcity which may embarrass us in regard to our war stocks; and is he prepared to receive representations on this subject?

Mr. Stanley

Yes, Sir, certainly, but that does not coincide with the information given to me.

Mr. Thorne

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in consequence of a shortage of sugar, the price has been increased during the last two or three weeks.