§ Mr. W. THORNEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that if he grants a subsidy to the British sugar-beet growers for refining sugar, a number of employés will be thrown out of work in Silvertown and other parts of the country where there are sugar-refining factories; and whether he will take this fact into consideration before any such subsidy is granted?
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§ Mr. BUXTONIt is difficult to see how the comparatively small amount of sugar produced (or likely to be produced during the proposed subsidy period) from homegrown sugar-beet can affect the sugar-refining trae. At no time has the British refiner manufactured all the sugar consumed in the United Kingdom, and consumption will continue to increase. In 1922, 1,908,970 tons were imported, of which 523,539 tons came into this country already refined. To replace this quantity of refined sugar at least 50 factories dealing with four million tons of beets would be required, and this would still leave the refiners in the same position as to-day. The question was fully considered before the Government announcement on the subject was made.