Mr. MACLEANasked the Minister of Food whether his attention has been drawn to a public statement of a Scottish correspondent from Inverness to the effect that, if allowed, he could bring into the country at least 3,000 tons of sugar every fortnight and sell it cheaper than controlled sugar; whether any effort is being 2101W made to secure more adequate supplies of sugar; and whether he can throw any light on the statement in question?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. There would appear to be no foundation for the statement in question. As regards the supply of sugar, the world's present production as compared with the pre-War production of sugar has decreased to the extent of some three-and-a-half million tons. As regards the price of sugar in this country, sugar for the domestic ration is being retailed at a figure much below the price in other countries, including the United States. Every effort is being made by the Royal Commission on the Sugar Supply to secure adequate supplies of sugar.