§ 21. Mr. Rentonasked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the vital need for building another sugar beet factory in the south of England in order to maintain the present level of sugar beet production in this country; and what steps he is taking to encourage the building of another such factory.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeIt is more economic, given the present limitations on capital investment, to increase the capacity of existing factories. This is being done under the present reconstruction programme.
§ Mr. RentonIs my right hon. and gallant Friend quite sure that the increase in the production of existing factories will simplify the immensely complicated transport problems which now exist, and will anything be done towards cutting down the cost of transport of sugar beet to the factories?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeWe will do anything to cut down cost because it adds to the ultimate price, but the sugar beet grown in the southern counties is about 5 per cent., and we are, in fact, engaged now in reconstruction so as to get greater sugar extraction from the existing acreage.