HC Deb 07 July 1948 vol 453 cc376-7
59. Mr. Keeling

asked the Minister of Food what quantities of sugar and tinplate have been sent to South Africa during the last twelve months to enable jam to be made and sent to the United Kingdom; and what were the total freight costs in both directions.

Dr. Summerskill

The sugar we exported to South Africa did not come from United Kingdom supplies. We do not know how much of it, nor of the tinplate exported under Board of Trade licence, was used for jam. The outgoing freight cannot therefore be calculated. The freight costs for imports of South African canned jam over the past year were about £200,000.

Mr. Keeling

Is the Minister satisfied that this extremely extravagant way of supplying the British consumer with jam is better than importing the fruit?

Dr. Summerskill

The hon. Gentleman must realise that when we import jam we at the same time get sugar, of which we are short in this country.

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