§ Mr. TICKLERasked the Minister of Food (1) if it has been brought to his notice that no further useful purpose can be served by continuing the control of sugar to the community; will he advise the immediate decontrol of this article so that it may be sold at its economic value;
(2) what are the estimated stocks of sugar held by the Sugar Commission; is 85W he aware of the stagnation caused to manufacturers by the holding up of these stocks at a price much higher than the market value; and will he direct the Commission to bring their prices to the level of the world's Value?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONWith regard to the stocks of sugar held by the Sugar Commission, and the prices charged by the Commission in relation to world prices, I would refer him to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for Rotherham on the 21st ultimo, and that given to the hon. Member for Spen Valley on the 27th ultimo, respectively. The hon. Member may have noticed that, in accordance with the policy there described, wholesale prices of sugar were reduced this morning. The whole question of the continuance of operations by the Sugar Commission has been under consideration for some time, and I am not able to make any further statement at present.