Sugar

HC Deb 11 November 1974 vol 881 cc26-7

31. Mr. Michael Morris

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the present prospects for the supply of granulated, caster, cube, icing and brown sugar to housewives in the shops.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. Gavin Strang)

On total supply I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten) and others on 7th November. As to the speciality sugars, I understand that production levels in the pre-Christmas period should be normal in proportion to total supplies.

Mr. Morris

Were not representations made to the Government as long ago as March, covering speciality and granulated sugar? When will the Minister face the fact that by and large housewives are not hoarding sugar and that, unless the Government either bring in rationing or improve the supply, pensioners and women who go out to work will have no sugar and the rest of the community will have very little?

Mr. Strang

If one ignores the action at Silvertown—which is, of course, over—the supplies this year are at least as high as last year, both in total and in terms of retail packs. I cannot accept the hon. Member's assertion that there is no hoarding by housewives, but we have an abnormally high level of demand at present, and the satisfactory conclusion will be for decent long-term assurances to be obtained by my right hon. Friend.

Mr. Teddy Taylor

We have been having complacent answers for about six months, during which time sugar has not been available for long periods in many towns in Scotland and England. Would it not be sensible to come to a long-term arrangement whereby we can get sugar—namely, with Australia? If this cannot be done, why cannot there be sugar rationing to ensure fair shares all round?

Mr. Strang

I totally reject the suggestion of complacency, but I agree wholeheartedly with the hon. Gentleman that the sensible solution is long-term contracts and arrangements. I regret very much that his right hon. Friends did not take this into account when they were negotiating our entry into the Common Market.

Mr. Skinner

Does my hon. Friend agree that it is a bizarre state of affairs when we hear spokesmen for the Tories, who for centuries have hoarded money and commodities of all kinds and have been depriving ordinary people of decent living standards as a result of their hoarding activities, now complaining because there appears perhaps to be a little bit of hoarding by those in the lower strata?

Mr. Strang

As usual, I agree absolutely with everything my hon. Friend has said.

Mr. Peyton

Will the hon. Gentleman now apply his mind to the future and say what the Government's plans are to ensure adequate supplies?

Mr. Strang

The right hon. Gentleman will be aware that these matters are being discussed this week in the Council of Ministers. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture will be discussing them further and, hopefully, reaching satisfactory conclusions next week. We are confident that we shall secure the 1.4 million tons access of sugar from the developing Commonwealth countries.