§ 66. Mr. George Thomasasked the Minister of Food what quantity of malted barley, unmalted corn and other grains or food materials were used for the distillation of potable spirits in each of the war years.
§ 52. Mr. James Hudsonasked the Minister of Food if he is aware that the latest statistics available to the House for the amount of foodstuffs diverted to the use of the brewers are those for the year ended 30th September, 1939; and will he now give statistics or estimates for any more recent period which have assisted him in allocating to the brewers their share of barley and other cereals, and of sugar, molasses or other equivalents.
§ Sir B. SmithI understand that the Annual Report of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise, to be published shortly, will give the statistics to which the hon. Member refers for each of the six years to 30th September, 1944. Final figures for the year ended 30th September, 1945, are not yet available, but it is estimated that the brewing industry is at present using cereals at the rate of about 760,000 tons per annum, and sugar at the rate of 96,000 tons.