8. Mr. Wileyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how the suspension of the surcharge and the payment of distribution payments will affect the retail price of sugar.
Mr. AmoryThese changes are equivalent to a reduction in the first hand selling price of refined sugar in the home trade of 1¼d. per 2 lb., which should be reflected in lower retail prices.
§ Mr. WilleyIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that he would be much more popular if he had done this six months ago? This is rather late for the housewives, who have now begun jam-making. As the retail price of sugar went up by 7 1½d. a lb. six months ago, we should expect a similar reduction now and not just this reduction of a halfpenny.
Mr. AmoryI think that the arrangements are working out precisely as intended by Parliament when the Act was passed. The hon. Member will remember that at that time concern was expressed by the trade lest changes were made too frequently, and the trade considered that, a surcharge or distribution payment having been fixed, it should be allowed to run for some months without being altered again quickly. That is precisely what happened.