HC Deb 27 May 1952 vol 501 cc1147-8
39. Mr. Profumo

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state the cost in sterling of fondant, sweetened fats and piping jelly imported into the United Kingdom from foreign countries during the last 12 months.

Mr. H. Strauss

Imports of fondant have been separately recorded in the trade returns only since 1st January this year. In the three months January to March, 1952, imports from foreign countries were valued at £1,091,000. The corresponding figure for the year 1951 is estimated at just over £8 million. Imports of sugar-fat mixtures from foreign countries in the 12 months April, 1951, to March, 1952 were £7,598,000. No figures are available for piping jelly.

Mr. Profumo

The figures which are available are very large indeed. Is my hon. and learned Friend aware that the cost of 100 tons of sugar substitute in this form is in the nature of £15,600, whereas the cost of 100 tons of real sugar is only about £6,000? Will he not cut down still further on the importation of these substitutes and use the money which is thereby saved so that the Ministry of Food can buy some real sugar?

Mr. Strauss

My hon. Friend will be glad to know that imports of all these commodities from foreign sources are now subject to stringent import licensing control.

Mr. Profumo

I am well aware of that. I am asking my hon. and learned Friend whether he will consider cutting down still further, because we could save a great deal of money if we went out into the Empire and bought real sugar instead. Could I have an answer?

Mr. Nicholson

What is the piping jelly carried in—bagpipes or drainpipes or what?

Mr. Profumo

Would my hon. and learned Friend consider giving me an assurance that this matter will be reconsidered, in view of the obvious saving which could be made?

Mr. Strauss

I will look into any question which my hon. Friend raises, but I do not propose possibly to mislead the House by adding, at the moment, to the reply which I have given.

Mr. Nicholson

On a point of order. Technical terms are used in Questions which the House does not understand, and piping jelly is a new one to us. Could we know what it is?

Mr. Speaker

That is not a point of order. There are always dictionaries.