§ Mr. BARNESasked the Minister of Labour how mans persons, male and female, are employed in the beet sugar industry of Great Britain in the production of sugar beet, in the production of sugar front sugar beet, and in the production of machinery for sugar-beet factories, respectively?
Mr. GUINNESSI have been asked to reply. The number of persons employed in Great Britain in the production of sugar from sugar beet during the 1925–26 manufacturing season has been approximately 4,700. Owing to the large number of contractors engaged in supplying parts of machinery for beet sugar factories it is difficult to say how many persons are engaged in the production of machinery, but enquiries are being made. The number of persons engaged during 1925 in the erection of and extensions to beet sugar factories was over 6,000. No figures are available of the total number of persons employed in the production of the crop.