HC Deb 13 March 1950 vol 472 cc738-9
34. Mr. Ralph Morley

asked the Minister of Food when he will be in a position to increase the sugar ration.

41. Mr. Harrison

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the increased world supplies of sugar, he will now increase the sugar ration.

Mr. Webb

I am looking into the whole problem of our sugar supplies, but I feel it my duty to tell the House now, in view of our available supplies at the moment, that there is no immediate prospect of an early increase in the ration. Indeed, I shall feel happy myself, if I can hold the ration for the time being. We are buying the whole exportable surplus of sugar from Commonwealth countries, and any extra sugar would involve using our dollar reserves. But I am surveying the whole situation, and will give the House the full facts as soon as possible.

Mr. Morley

While thanking my right hon. Friend for his very full and courteous reply may I ask him if he has observed the great quantities of sweet jam and sweet cakes on sale in shops, often at prices beyond the capacity of ordinary working class housewives to pay? Will he consider a smaller allocation of sugar to the manufacturers of jams and cakes, and using the sugar saved thereby to increase the sugar ration for housewives?

Mr. Webb

We must get a balance between all the claims on our sugar supplies, and that is one of the factors we are looking at at present.

Mr. Harrison

Are we to assume that the recent Colonial conference on the production and distribution of sugar has been something of a failure? I am referring to the Caribbean Conference.

Mr. Webb

There is another Question on the Order Paper on that subject.

Sir P. Macdonald

If there is a shortage of Empire sugar why restrict the production of sugar in the Colonial Empire instead of encouraging Colonial producers?

Mr. Webb

That is one of the subjects under discussion.

Mr. A. Edward Davies

Will my right hon. Friend be kind enough to consider the request of some of the older people, that they should have the option of giving up their sweet ration in exchange for more sugar?

Mr. Webb

Yes, Sir.

Mr. Boothby

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the desirability of giving priority to housewives in the manufacture of jam, and say whether any sugar for home-made jam may be available in the near future?

Mr. Webb

That is very high up in the list of claims, but as the hon. Member will realise, there are a good many claims on our limited supplies of sugar. My job, I should have thought, is to balance them, and arrive at the best possible equitable allocation.