§ 65. Mr. Dyeasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has given consideration to increasing the production of sugar from home grown sugar beet in the coming season, by improving the intake of beet into certain factories and by extending the period of the campaign; and whether he will give an assurance that there is no form of international agreement that prevents an increased acreage of sugar beet in this country.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsBeet sugar factories are already working to full capacity. The length of the factory campaign is limited by the period during which beet can be efficiently and economically processed, and the present length of the campaign could not be safely exceeded. As regards the second part of the Question, the limitations imposed by the International Sugar Agreement have been inoperative since the war began.
§ Mr. DyeIs my right hon. Friend aware that a number of factories were not working at full capacity last season owing to breakdowns, and is he further aware that sugar beet, when harvested, can be kept for a long time and processed later?
§ Mr. WilliamsThe reply I have given is based on the best expert advice we can get. During the war, beet sugar factories were working up to absolute maximum capacity except, of course, for breakdowns, for which nobody could cater.
§ Mr. DyeIs my right hon. Friend aware that farmers have been asked to produce as much sugar this year as was produced from the sugar beet crop of 1936?
§ Mr. WilliamsMy hon.Friend is referring to a record year, in which all the factors were favourable. We could not expect farmers to produce to the maximum each year unless we knew that the volume of sugar beet could be taken 1530 through the factories within the three active months.