§ 38. Mr. Willeyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much sugar is stored by his Department on disused airfields.
§ Mr. GodberThe raw sugar stored by my Department is part of our strategic stocks. It would not be in the public interest to disclose the quantity now stored on disused airfields, but it is only a small and steadily decreasing fraction of our total raw sugar stocks.
§ Mr. WilleyWhile recognising the coyness of the Joint Parliamentary Secretary, may I ask him why in this year of 1958 he stores sugar on disused airfields? Why not store it properly? How much wastage has there been over the last few years?
§ Mr. GodberIt is perfectly normal practice to store it in the open. It does not deteriorate to any extent more there than when stored under cover. The amount of wastage is extremely small, certainly less than 1 per cent.
Mr. H. WilsonWhat degree of cooperation is there between the hon. Gentleman's Department and the Board of Trade? Why, when the Board of Trade is getting rid of its strategic stockpiles of metals and other raw materials, is the hon. Gentleman still clinging to stocking sugar on disused airfields? What is the strategic difference between sugar and raw materials from this point of view?
§ Mr. GodberA great deal. I did indicate that stocks are being reduced at the present time.