§ Sir R. Glynasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he has considered the hardships that have resulted from the closing down of distilleries in Scotland; to what extent the stocks have been depleted below the estimate; and whether, under all the circumstances, he will have the whole question reconsidered?
§ Mr. MabaneThe consideration mentioned by my hon. Friend was taken fully into account when it was decided to discontinue the allocation of cereals for whisky distilling. I am not sure to what estimate the second part of the Question refers, but stocks of matured and maturing whisky are at least as large as could have been anticipated when a decision to curtail output was first taken in January, 1940. I regret that there is no possibility of my Noble Friend's decision being reconsidered at the present time.