§ 88. Mr. Osborneasked the Minister of Food how much extra sugar would be required to permit the de-rationing of sweets; and how much per lb. Cuba is asking for the 2 million tons she has surplus.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeEstimates vary widely according to the different assumptions made, and I cannot usefully give an estimate. The spot price of Cuban sugar on the New York terminal market is 4 cents a lb.
§ 93. Mr. Draysonasked the Minister of Food if he will permit manufacturers of bitter marmalade or jams to use less than the prescribed percentage of sugar, provided they state this clearly on the labels.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeThe standard for jam and marmalade is designed amongst other things to protect the consumer by limiting the proportion of water in the final product so as to ensure good keeping and to prevent adulteration. It is a standard which has been accepted by the manufacturers—either voluntarily or legally—for over 20 years, and I am not at present satisfied that any case has been made out to depart from it.