HC Deb 27 September 1939 vol 351 cc1338-9
52. Mr. R. Gibson

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he is aware that refineries in Greenock and elsewhere have received instructions not to send less than one ton of sugar, carriage paid, to the nearest station or port, thus causing hardship to retailers in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland who have to take smaller quantities and have to pay freight of 2s. per cwt., or more, plus pier or ferry dues of 6d. or is. in addition to cartage of is. or thereby, but can only charge 3 ¼ d. per lb.; and whether he has any statement to make on the subject?

Mr. W. S. Morrison

No instructions of the kind referred to have been sent by the Ministry of Food to refiners in Scotland and any limitations which may have been placed upon the despatch of sugar from refineries are due to local transport difficulties. A new Sugar Prices Order was made on 23rd September which raised the maximum price of granulated sugar to 3½d. per 1b. It introduced special arrangements for the trade in the parts of Scotland referred to in the hon. and learned Member's question.

Mr. Gibson

In view of the considerations mentioned in the question will the right hon. Gentleman not consider the advisability of having a fixed price instead of a maximum price?

Mr. Morrison

When the object of food control is achieved there will be an increased number of fixed prices. It does not increase prices themselves, but increases the number of fixed prices.

Mr. Burke

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider giving much wider publicity to the orders issued by his Department? All kinds of people are being told that things are being done under Government control and by Government order, for which in fact the Government are not really responsible?

Mr. Morrison

That probably is the case, and I am considering some method of achieving wider publicity for these orders.

Mr. A. V. Alexander

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is widespread dissatisfaction at the new orderbeing practised of accepting no carriage paid delivery from refineries under two tons, which presses hard on the small man? Is it not the case that the trade recommended a return to a minimum quantity not exceeding 4 cwt.?

Mr. Morrison

I should like notice of that particular point. As I understand it, the trade itself limited the consignment to a certain size because of the transport difficulties they had to encounter.

Mr. Thorne

Is not the best way of dealing with the thousands of people in this country to broadcast these orders?

Mr. Morrison

That is one way of doing it, but I think it will be necessary to use some sort of periodical circulation so that people will know where they are.