§ Lieut-Colonel Bolesasked the Minister of Food to what extent Christmas puddings are being exported from this country; and in what proportion ingredients are allocated for this purpose compared with those for the home market.
§ Mr. StracheyExports of Christmas puddings have been approved to a figure which represents just over 1 per cent. of the total quantity that will be available for sale in this country. The quality of Christmas puddings for export must, of course, be competitive with that of the products of other countries, and sufficient ingredients have therefore been allocated to ensure that British manufacturers can 287W maintain the established prewar standard of their products. As I explained to the hon. Member for Chichester (Mr. Joynson-Hicks) on 14th July last, we allow the export of certain manufactured foods because they are of high money value in relation to the quantity of foodstuffs which they contain.
§ Lieut.-Golonel Bolesasked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the extent of demobilisation of the Services and other reasons, any increase has been made in the allocation of ingredients to manufacturers of Christmas puddings.
§ Mr. StracheySufficient ingredients have been allocated to manufacturers of Christmas puddings to allow a production appreciably higher than that of 1946.