§ Mr. W. THORNEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that, since the Order was made for not allowing the sale of sugar and other foodstuffs to be conditional upon the purchaser buying other foodstuffs, some shopkeepers now refuse 930W to sell sugar because they say that a person is not their customer; and if he intends taking any action to prevent such a practice?
Captain BATHURSTI would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for East Somerset on the 23rd March. For the reasons that I stated it seems impossible to require a grocer to sell sugar to any person demanding it. As my hon. Friend is aware, the condition of sugar distribution is now the subject of an inquiry by a Departmental Committee.
§ Mr. DUFFYasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his attention has been directed to the case of shopkeepers in Ireland who cannot procure any sugar for the accommodation of their customers; is he aware that James Holland, White Gate, county Galway, has been carrying on business since 1916, has a considerable number of customers in a rural district, but, owing to the fact that he was carrying out improvements in his business establishment in the year 1915, is now precluded from getting any sugar; and whether steps will be taken to reasonably provide for the wants of such traders before they are compelled to close down?
Captain BATHURSTThe case referred to in this question was recently brought to the notice of the Royal Commission on the Sugar Supply, who made immediate inquiries. The case presents difficulties, because it appears that Mr. Holland purchased a business from a man whose whereabouts are unknown, and he cannot state how much sugar his predecessor used to receive or from whom it was obtained. The Royal Commission are doing their best to settle the difficulty.
§ Mr. FFRENCHasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if any complaints have been received from Mr. Stephenson, Adamstown, South Wexford, relative to firms that contracted to give him a certain supply of sugar but who refused to give him the quantity to which he is entitled; and, as the country for several miles around where he lives is depending on him for sugar, will he see that the proper percentage of the supply contracted for is forthcoming?
Captain BATHURSTI am informed by the Royal Commission on the Sugar Supply that a difference has arisen between Mr. Stephenson and the firm from which he is 931W entitled to draw his supplies as to the precise amount of sugar to which he is entitled, and that the information at present before the Sugar Commission does not enable them to settle the difference. Further inquiries will be made.
§ Mr. R. MCNEILLasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that retailers in Dover are almost completely without supplies of sugar and that none therefore is procurable by many people in the town; and whether he can take any measures to enable supplies of sugar to be sent to Dover?
Captain BATHURSTThe Food Controller has already had occasion to inquire into the position of Dover with regard to its sugar supply. As a result he is not satisfied that there is any net increase in the civilian population of the town since 1915, or other cause likely to create any serious shortage of sugar. He is, however. sending an inspector to the district to make further inquiry into the position to report upon the difficulties which the hon. Member has mentioned.