§ Mr. W. THORNEasked the Minister of Agriculture the total consumption of sugar in the United Kingdom for the year 1926; the number of tons refined in British refineries; the number of tons of refined sugar received from the Continent, Canada and the United States of America; the amount of capital employed in the sugar-refining trade in this country; and if he is in a position to state when the subsidy of 26s. Mid per hundredweight is likely to terminate?
§ Sir B. CHADWICKI have been asked to reply. The quantities of sugar entered for home consumption in the year 1926 were as follow:
Imported sugar. Tons. Refined prior to importation 696,000 Refined in bond in the United Kingdom 788,000 Unrefined sugar 144,000 Sugar manufactured from home-grown beet 118,000 Total of above 1,746,000 Some corrections in these figures may be necessary in respect of over-entries, and no account is taken in this statement of sugar contained in various manufactured articles such as confectionery, preserves, etc., imported or exported.
The total of refined sugar imported in 1926 was 699,000 tons, of which 613,000 tons were consigned from countries in Europe, 66,000 tons from Canada and 12,000 tons from the United States of America.
1661WI am unable to state the value of the capital employed in the sugar refining industry in this country.
In accordance with the British Sugar (Subsidy) Act, 1925,, the subsidy on homegrown sugar and molasses falls in 1928 from 19s. 6d. to 13s. per cwt. on sugar, and from 8s. 10.9d. to 5s. 11.3d. per cwt. on molasses of 50 to 70 per cent. sweetening matter; and—after a further fall in 1931 to 6s. 6d. per cwt. on sugar and 2s. 11.13;6d. per cwt. on molasses—the subsidy ends in 1934.
Live Stock. Week ended 9th March, 1927. Week ended 10th March, 1926. £ s. d. £ s. d. Fat cattle, per live cwt 2 10 7 2 17 4 Store cattle, shorthorn yearlings, per head 14 2 6 13 16 0 Store cattle, shorthorn 2 years old per head 18 0 0 19 0 6 Store cattle, shorthorn 3 years old per head 22 4 6 22 15 6 Cows in milk, shorthorns, per head 28 9 6 31 11 0 Fat sheep, per 1b. estimated dressed carcase weight 1 2¼ 1 3 Store sheep, hoggs and tegs, per bead 3 4 0 3 7 0 Fat pigs, porkers, per 14 1b. stone estimated dressed carcase weight. 14 4 15 1 Fat pigs, baconers, per 14 1b. stone estimated dressed carcase weight. 12 9 14 0 Store pigs, 8–12 weeks old, per head 2 7 4 2 6 4 Store pigs, 12–16 weeks old, per head 3 9 2 3 8 0
Cereals. Week ended 5th March, 1927. Week ended 6th March, 1926. s. d. s. d. Wheat, per cwt. … … … … … … … 11 8 11 6 Barley, per cwt. … … … … … … … 11 0 9 2 Oats, per cwt. … … … … … … … 8 1 8 11 * Prices of Livestock are average prices of first quality animals. The Ministry does not collect statistics of the prices of horses.