§ 37. Captain Pluggeasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the desirability that the production of Colonial sugar should be increased as rapidly as possible under present conditions; and whether he will take steps to remove at the earliest opportunity the anomalies inherent in the present system of allocating special preference certificates for sugar exports from the Colonies, which, at the present time, militate against such expansion?
§ The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. George Hall)As stated in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Stourbridge (Mr. R. Morgan) on the 1st May the question whether a further increase in Colonial sugar production is needed to meet requirements in this country is now under examination with the various Departments concerned. There is no evidence that the present system of allocation of special preference certificates is likely to hinder any expansion which the probable demand may justify. No action taken now can affect the supply situation before the Spring of 1942.