Lieut.-Colonel Sir F. HALLasked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the heavy imports of sugar confectionery from the United States; whether, in view of the fact that British manufacturers are prohibited from importing sugar and restricted in the amount of their exports of sugared goods, he has considered the effect of their unequal competition on employment in this country; and if he can see his way to equalise the position of British and foreign manufacturers?
§ Mr. McCURDYI have been asked to reply. I have recently received, in company with my right hon. Friends, the Parliamentary Secretaries to the Board of Trade and to this Ministry, a trade deputation on this subject, and listened with sympathy to the grievances of the 1627W traders concerned. At the same time, in view of the shortage of sugar and of the fact that sugared goods may be regarded as a supplement to the sugar ration, I do not see my way to meeting the representations made by the trade as regards prohibition of import. As regards export, although sugar and articles containing sugar are on the export prohibited list, export of confectionery up to 50 per cent. of the 1913 exports is allowed under licence, and there is no evidence to show that this export ration is inadequate to meet the present requirements of the British export trade. In the event of the export ration being proved to be insufficient, I should be glad to consider the question of its being increased.