HC Deb 24 May 1937 vol 324 cc31-2W
Mr. Morgan

asked the Lord President of the Council whether the agreement reached at the International Sugar Conference will oblige this country to continue to import foreign sugar to the extent of over 600,000 tons annually for the next five years; and whether the matter will be discussed at the Imperial Conference, in view of the fact that it will seriously affect the increase of sugar imports from the Empire into this country?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

I have been asked to reply. The agreement reached by the International Sugar Conference does not in form oblige this country to import foreign sugar. All countries exporting sugar have come to an agreement by which they will regulate their exports to the free market, in accordance with an approved scale, for a period of five years. Empire countries exporting sugar no less than foreign countries have taken a part in this arrangement and the agreement provides that Empire countries shall obtain an equitable share of any expansion in the market for sugar in this country. The Members of the British Commonwealth concerned were represented by separate delegations at the International Sugar Conference, and there would therefore be no object in discussing the matter again at the Imperial Conference.