§ Mr. R. Gibsonasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food when supplies of block chocolate will be on sale to the public; and whether the two-ounce block will still be retailed at 2d.?
Major Lloyd GeorgeSupplies of block chocolate have never ceased to be on sale to the public. The total production has, however, fallen substantially as a result of the reduction of supplies of sugar, milk, nuts and dried fruits, and after meeting priority requirements, which take from 20 to 25 percent. of the output, the quantity of block chocolate available to the public is little more than half the pre-war quantity. The two main ingredients are sugar and cocoa beans and as sugar for manufacture is more than two and a half times and cocoa beans more than twice the pre-war price, chocolate cannot be sold at pre-war prices. A price control scheme is being agreed with the industry.