§ 112. Mr. Gammansasked the Minister of Food how much sugar was purchased by His Majesty's Government from the British West Indies, Cuba, and Haiti, respectively, for the six months ended 31st December, 1946; and the average price paid to each country.
§ Dr. SummerskillPurchases are made on the basis of a full year's supply and shipped as freight is available. Six-monthly figures would be misleading. The quantities obtained by the Ministry of Food in 1946 were approximately:
Tons. British West Indies and British Guiana 530,000 Cuba 750,000 San Domingo 410,000 Haiti 20,000 The average price per ton c.i.f. U.K. of sugar purchased from the British West Indies and British Guiana was £20 10s. The price of the supplies from the other countries mentioned has not yet been fixed, as it is related to the cost of living index figure in the U.S.A., final figures of which are not available.
§ 113. Mr. Pickthornasked the Minister of Food why there is a ship in the Thames loading sugar for the Persian Gulf; and where Mauritius sugar is going to.
§ Dr. SummerskillMauritius sugar is allocated by the International Emergency Food Council to meet the rationed requirements of Middle East countries for which this country is responsible. Until the new crop becomes available, these supplies have to be supplemented by advances from the United Kingdom, which are subject to replacement later in the year.