Mr. NUGENTasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if it is the intention of the Government to further restrict the amount of sugar allotted to the Confectionery trade; if he is aware that the present allowance of sugar to manufacturers, namely, 25 per cent. of the amount used by them during the year 1915, when the imports were much lower than in previous years, is barely sufficient to maintain the trade; if he is aware that any further reduction in the supply to manufacturers would lead to a general closing down of the trade and the disemployment of a number of workers; and, as the food value of confectionery is generally recognised, and a further curtailment of the raw material must lead to increased consumption of other foodstuffs, if he will take steps to see that no further reduction is made in the supply of sugar to manufacturers?
§ Mr. CLYNESWhether the amount of sugar permitted to be used in the manufacture of confectionery will be further reduced must depend always upon the supplies generally available from time to time, and I cannot, there-fore, give any undertaking as to future action in the matter. With regard to the remainder of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Devon-port on 31st January last.
§ General CROFTasked the President of the Board of Agriculture for what price the Government could purchase the Cantley Beet Sugar Factory; and whether, 1388W in the event of the Government deciding to purchase, there will be sufficient seed to develop this property in 1919?
§ Sir R. WINFREYThe Board have never thought it desirable to purchase the Cantley Sugar Beet Factory, having regard to the process there installed, its situation, and the decision to embark upon a full-scale commercial experiment at Kelham, Nottinghamshire. It was considered essential that the experiment, in which public money is to be used, should be carried out under the most favourable initial conditions. The Board understand, that the Cantley Factory was offered to the Ministry of Munitions for other purposes, but no direct proposal was ever made to the Board.
§ General CROFTasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that if sugar production had been seriously taken in hand in 1915 this country could have provided 1,000 tons of sugar a day, and the sugar shortage could have been solved; and whether the Board is prepared to grapple with this question, so as to free home consumers from possible shortage in 1919 and subsequent years'?
§ Sir R. WINFREYThe hon. Member must be aware that the suggestion contained in the first part of his question is purely a matter of opinion, which does not take into account the consequent expenditure on man power and machinery or the reduction that would follow in the production of other essential foods. I take leave to refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for the University of London on the 5th instant and to the previous answer therein referred to.