§ Mr. Gammansasked the Minister of Food the countries of the Empire from which supplies of sugar are imported into this country, giving the amounts so imported in 1937 and in the last available year; and what proportion of the sugar imports into this country are obtained from sterling and dollar areas, respectively.
§ Sir B. SmithThe countries of the Empire from which supplies of sugar were imported into this country in 1937, and the quantities imported are as follow:
Tons. B.W.I, and British Guiana 367,800 Mauritius 286,570 South Africa 189,418 Australia 383,380 Fiji 84,483 British East Africa 13,593 Making a total from Empire sources in that year of 1,325,244 tons. This is a higher figure than in any other year either "before or after 1937. In 1945, as throughout the war, we purchased the entire exportable surplus of sugar from all producing Dominions and Colonies.
236WThe figures of imports into the U.K. in 1945 are as follows:
Tons. B.W.I, and British Guiana 234,000 For reasons of shipping economy all the Australian, South African, Mauritius and Fiji sugar was shipped in 1945 to other areas for which the Ministry of Food is responsible: e.g., New Zealand, Ceylon, Far Eastern and Middle Eastern destinations, whilst approximately half of the B.W.I, production is supplied to Canada.
The proportions from sterling and dollar areas imported into this country under present conditions are about one-quarter sterling and three-quarters dollar. This does not give a very accurate picture, however as I purchase all sterling sugar available, and the proportion of the total purchases is about two-fifths sterling and three-fifths dollar.