§ 9. Mr. Wedgwood Bennasked the Minister of Labour how many firms are faced with a stoppage of production due to the cancellation of licences for the import of fondant sugar from the Continent announced last November; what increase of unemployment he expects as a result of these stoppages; and what plans he has for absorbing the redundant workers into other forms of employment.
§ Sir W. MoncktonI have received reports of only one firm where there has been considerable redundancy due to this cause. In that case there are still nine redundant workers registered as unemployed and the employment exchange is endeavouring to place them in other employment.
§ Mr. BennWould the right hon. and learned Gentleman consider bringing pressure to bear on the Minister of Food to see whether the pre-war allocations of sugar might be shared with those firms which have started since the war, and who were previously dependent on imported fondant sugar so as to prevent any unemployment at all?
§ Sir W. MoncktonI will bring that matter to the notice of my right hon. and gallant Friend.