§ 57. Major Carverasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what is the approximate proportion of our sugar imports which are now being obtained from Empire sources; how this proportion compares with that at a similar date in 1939; and whether he anticipates that it will shortly be possible to obtain all our requirements of sugar from the Empire?
§ Mr. BoothbyArrangements have been completed for the purchase of the entire exports of the coming season's sugar crops of Australia, the Union of South Africa, Mauritius, Fiji and the British West Indian Colonies. The total quantity involved is about one and three-quarter million tons, of which the United Kingdom proportion is about one and a quarter million tons. Arrivals of this sugar in the United Kingdom will be spread over a long period, beginning in about two months and do not therefore affect the immediate sugar supplies.
Canada and New Zealand are partners with the United Kingdom Government in these purchases, and both Dominions have shown the utmost co-operation throughout the negotiations, whilst the arrangements have been much facilitated by the helpful attitude of the exporting Dominions and Colonies concerned. Supplies of foreign sugar are only purchased to supplement, as necessary, deficiencies in supplies from Empire sources and this policy will be continued for the 546 future. In the circumstances no useful conclusion would be drawn from a comparison between present and pre-war figures.