Mrs. Manningasked the Minister of Food on what basis sugar is allocated for the manufacture of medicinal preparations; what proportion this bears to 2W the amount of sugar allocated for sugar confectionery; and whether he will arrange for an allocation of sugar to be made to manufacturers of medicines who have commenced business since 1939.
§ Mr. StracheySugar is allocated to manufacturers of medicinal preparations mainly as a percentage of usage during the year ended 30th June, 1939. Allocations fall into three groups:—
Per cent. of Datum (a) Preparations made according to the British Pharmacopaeia or B.P. Codex 135 (b) Non-B.P. preparations 90 (c) Medicinal tablets and lozenges 105 The total allocation of sugar amounts to 12,000 tons a year, which is about 6 per cent. of the allocation to the sugar confectionery industry. A quantity of sugar is available for allocation on the advice of the Ministry of Health to firms in the pharmaceutical trade who commenced business after 1939 or who desire to do so now.