HC Deb 01 April 1953 vol 513 cc1200-2
30. Mr. T. Reid

asked the Minister of Food what steps he is taking to alleviate the shortage of sweets in Swindon and district at the end of March.

Major Lloyd George

I have made special inquiries and am satisfied that there is no general shortage in Swindon and district.

Mr. Reid

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that I have had reports, some of which I have passed on to him, which show that wholesale dealers are unable to supply sweets to many of the retailers in Swindon?

Major Lloyd George

I would point out that when changing from a completely controlled market the pattern of distribution takes some considerable time to settle down. The actual consumption overall throughout the country today has not come up to the figure we anticipated when we started de-rationing. Arrangements were made, as the hon. Gentleman probably knows, to give sufficient raw materials to manufacturers to get them over what everybody knew would be an intense demand in the first few weeks, and the amount given would certainly have been sufficient to meet the initial shock.

Mr. Snow

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that we are very suspicious about his sources of information on this matter; that these complaints about shortages of sweets, and more specifically of chocolate, appear to come from all parts of the country; and is he not getting his information that there is no shortage from the very few who have a vested interest in wanting de-control?

Major Lloyd George

There are other people who have a vested interest in getting more sugar. There is no doubt at all that there is a not unnatural desire on the part of many manufacturers to get more sugar, and I want to make it perfectly clear that in the present supply position that is quite out of the question. Whilst it is true that there are shortages of certain lines, it is an interesting fact that, nevertheless, there has been no complaint from consumers, either in London or anywhere else.

36. Miss Burton

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that Coventry is short of sweets; and what action is proposed to deal with the situation.

Major Lloyd George

I have made special inquiries. Here as elsewhere there are local shortages of the more popular lines. This position should, however, right itself as manufacturers and wholesalers adjust their deliveries to the requirements of their customers.

Miss Burton

Is the Minister aware that the Coventry branch of the National Union of Retail Confectioners has stated that all its 200 members are short of sweets; and that it is officially stated that, whereas the waiting period for supplies in Coventry used to be 14 days, it is now nine weeks?

Major Lloyd George

I have seen that statement— that the waiting period is seven to nine weeks— but the facts are as I stated in reply to a previous Question. The raw materials necessary for the increased consumption taking place were made available. As I said before, it will take some time for the new pattern of distribution to be worked out. For instance, today there are people selling sweets who have never sold them before: new points of distribution are growing up all over the country, and because the pattern of consumption is very much different today, particularly in certain localities, from what it was before the war, it will take some little time to settle down.

Mr. Hastings

Is the Minister not aware that the more wholesome varieties of sweets, like butterscotch, and that sort of thing, have been wholly unobtainable in London since de-rationing? What is he going to do about it, seeing that the children are suffering thereby in having to buy unwholesome varieties?