§ Mr. HIGHAMasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will instruct the Sugar Commission to grant a regular and sufficient supply of sugar to every V.A.D. hospital, every military hospital, and 2677W every Y.M.C.A. hut in the country; and if he has sanctioned the action of the Commission in leaving soldiers either wounded or unbounded short of this necessity?
§ Mr. McKENNAArrangements of the kind suggested have been for some little time under consideration and are nearing completion. The Commission has not had any case of the kind suggested in the latter part of the question brought to its knowledge, and it does not undertake the distribution of sugar in detail.
§ Mr. HIGHAMasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the difficulty experienced by military hospitals in obtaining supplies of sugar, and that in at least one instance, that of Pike Law, Rawtenstall, Lancashire, the Sugar Commission has refused sugar for 200 wounded soldiers; and whether steps will be taken to ensure that all hospitals are allowed a regular supply of this necessity?
§ Mr. FORSTERI have no knowledge of this particular case. It is understood from the Sugar Commission, from whom inquiries have been made, that arrangements are nearing completion for dealing specially with these supplies.
§ Mr. H. LAWasked the President of the Board of Trade why the Royal Commission on the Sugar Supply prohibits manufacturers from opening new accounts; whether he is aware that many traders are consequently prevented from obtaining sugar for many weeks together; and whether he can take any steps in the matter?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe Sugar Commission has made arrangements for the sugar supplies to be distributed to the same persons and in the same proportions as in the case of last year's supplies. It is only in this way that it is considered that the effect of the restrictions due to the tonnage position can fairly be distributed over the whole trade.