HC Deb 21 November 1951 vol 494 cc387-9
76. Mr. Bernard Braine

asked the Minister of Food how much sugar was purchased by his Department in 1950 and 1951 from Commonwealth sources and non-Commonwealth sources, respectively.

Major Lloyd George

The quantity of sugar purchased by my Department was as follows:

1950 1951
tons tons
Commonwealth sources 1,662,000 1,490,000
Foreign 1,372,000 1,452,000
and 1950, there has been a steady decline in the consumption of sugar.

Mr. Hudson

Is it true that there is still five or six weeks' ration even after the decline?

Colonel Gomme-Duncan

Does my right hon. and gallant Friend not agree that by the export of these liquors a larger amount of food is imported than would be possible with the five weeks' rations which the hon. Gentleman speaks about?

Mr. James Glanville

Is the Minister aware that the workers engaged in the heavy industries are very anxious that he should not submit to any pressure from my hon. Friend on this side?

Mr. Frederic Harris

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend also aware that a large quantity of sugar is used in cordials as well?

Following are the figures:

Mr. Gerald Nabarro

Can my right hon. and gallant Friend give the House an assurance that he is taking from British Guiana, Mauritius and Jamaica every ton of sugar that those Colonies can offer to the Mother Country?

Major Lloyd George

There is an agreement, as my hon. Friend knows, which is now being discussed by which we are taking as much as we possibly can, and the total this year which shows that the Commonwealth figure is down is due to the disastrous trouble in Australia when we lost so much sugar.

Lady Tweedsmuir

Can my right hon. and gallant Friend say whether Jamaica has delivered the full amount of sugar expected?

Major Lloyd George

I cannot answer that without notice, but I think she has.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

When are private buyers to be sent out to find the sugar?

Hon. Members

Answer.

Major Lloyd George

The answer to that is, the sooner the better.

Mr. Gordon Walker

Do I understand the right hon. and gallant Gentleman to mean that he wants to bring to as early an end as possible the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement?

Major Lloyd George

I most emphatically deny any such thing.

Hon. Members

What does it mean?

Major Lloyd George

I rather gathered that the hon. and gallant Gentleman's remark was that he was looking for sources of sugar other than what we have today.

77. Mr. Braine

asked the Minister of Food the average price of sugar purchased by his Department in 1950 and 1951 from Commonwealth sources and non-Commonwealth sources, respectively.

Major Lloyd George

Whereas Commonwealth sugar was bought at one agreed price covering shipments throughout the year, our purchases of foreign sugars were made under widely varying conditions. It would therefore be misleading to attempt to give figures.

Mr. Braine

Is it not a fact that on balance more was paid for foreign sugar than for Commonwealth sugar? In view of the dual need to keep prices down at home and encourage Empire production, can my right hon. and gallant Friend say whether he will be prepared to give a guarantee to colonial producers that he will take 100 per cent, of their production at remunerative prices after 1952 rather than only 70 per cent.?

Major Lloyd George

I must repeat that the matter is now under discussion with Commonwealth and Colonial growers and that the present price is one which has been agreed to by all Empire growers and they are perfectly satisfied with it.