§ Mr. Thornton-Kemsleyasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that instructions were issued prohibiting Colonial importers from purchasing sugar or sugar confectionery from Great Britain or the Dominions; and what prohibition was at the same time placed upon the import of these commodities from soft currency countries outside the Empire.
§ Mr. Rees-WilliamsThe hon. Member has been misinformed. So far as sugar is concerned, Colonial import programmes are agreed between His Majesty's Government and the Colonial Governments concerned, and the sugar is then supplied under arrangements made by the Ministry of Food or, if refined, from refiners in the United Kingdom. Imports are not allowed in excess of the agreed amounts. Imports of sugar confectionery are limited by import licence to the quantities which Colonial Governments consider it necessary to admit. Such imports are normally from the United Kingdom.