§ 51. Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the Minister of Food what percentage of the extra 22,000 tons of sugar allocated to cake and flour confectioners and to biscuit manufacturers has been and will be allocated to co-operative societies.
§ Mr. StracheyTwenty-two and one-half per cent.
§ 52. Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the Minister of Food what percentage of the sugar allocated to cake and flour confectioners and to biscuit manufacturers was allocated to co-operative societies in 1946–47 and 1947–48, respectively.
§ Mr. StracheyAbout 10 per cent. in each case.
§ Mr. TiffanyIs my right hon. Friend aware that the sugar allocation is based on the 1938 datum period, and that since then the Co-operative movement has in- 370 creased its membership by 1¼ million? As the movement has 25 per cent. of the bread trade of this country, a 10 per cent. normal sugar allocation means that the majority of its members do not get a fair allocation of cakes?
§ Mr. StracheyThese considerations were in our minds when we made this allocation to the Co-operative movement.
§ 53. Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the Minister of Food whether the allocation of extra sugar recently made for manufacturing purposes to co-operative societies was calculated on the same basis as the allocation made at the same time to firms engaged in the manufacture of biscuits and the business of cake and flour confectionery.
§ Mr. StracheyThe Co-operative authorities will themselves allocate their share of the extra sugar for manufacturing purposes among their societies. Other manufacturers of biscuits and cake and flour confectionery will receive extra supplies on the basis of the sugar they used in a datum period.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterCan the right hon. Gentleman say why this change was not announced in advance, so that anyone who was in the position to take advantage of the new arrangement could put in a claim and receive simultaneous benefits?
§ Mr. StracheyStrong representations were made to us by the Co-operative movement in this matter. They did not wish for notice, and we took the opportunity, when more sugar became available, to go some way towards righting a manifest injustice.
§ Mr. NicholsonDid the right hon. Gentleman receive any representations in a contrary sense from the rest of the trade?
§ Mr. StracheyYes, Sir, I received several deputations. I noted their representations carefully, but I could not agree with them.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterWhy was not the change announced in advance, so that anyone who could take advantage of the new conditions could have an opportunity to apply at the same time as the Cooperative movement, and receive extra benefits?
§ Mr. StracheyIt was announced in advance. The change has not taken place yet; it takes place next month.
§ Mr. Joynson-HicksHas the right hon. Gentleman any sugar left to enable him to meet representations from other objectors who have not yet had the opportunity of making their representations to him in the same way as the co-operative societies?
§ Mr. StracheyWith any given quantity of sugar, when increased quantites are given to one user, they must have an effect on the amount available to others, but with this qualification, it is true that there is some over to meet further representations.
§ Mr. TiffanyAs the co-operative societies are still receiving less than their share, will my right hon. Friend be prepared to accept representations from the movement?
§ Mr. StracheyI will consider them