§ 47. Mr. Mathersasked the Minister of Food what quantity of bitter oranges allotted to Scotland has been found to be surplus owing to lack of sugar in households to make marmalade; and whether he has decided upon any policy to prevent wastage.
§ Colonel LlewellinI do not anticipate that the supply of bitter oranges allotted for household consumption in Scotland will prove to be greater than the demand, and no wastage is expected.
§ Mr. MathersHas the right hon. and gallant Gentleman been informed that the demand by the retailers has dried up; and will he remove the ban placed upon wholesalers, who receive requests for large quantities of oranges to be sent outside the area, and will he release them and allow these wholesalers to dispose of their surplus?
§ Colonel LlewellinAt the moment only 2 per cent. of the bitter oranges imported into Scotland are left in the hands of the wholesalers.
§ Mr. BuchananIs the Minister aware that in some cases these oranges can hardly be distributed even free, because the poorer people particularly—and I believe it applies to all—have no sugar available in order to make use of them, and nobody can eat them in the ordinary way? Will he take steps either to make sugar available or to stop distributing them at all?
§ Colonel LlewellinIf it is found that they are left on hand, we can enlarge the area of distribution, but I am afraid I should not be justified in giving to a particular area an addition to the sugar ration.
§ Mr. TurtonWill the Minister send them to Yorkshire?