LORD HAWKEasked Her Majesty's Government whether they find themselves able this year to issue extra sugar to domestic consumers, and will they try to issue it in two allocations at the appropriate seasons to enable housewives to make jam from the soft fruit and stone fruit crops respectively.
§ LORD CARRINGTONOwing to very bad weather conditions in some producing countries supplies of sugar from the Commonwealth will be less in 1952 than last year. Beet sugar production, though above average, has also been lower this year than in the record breaking season of 1950–51. The deficiency could be recovered only by importing more from dollar countries, who alone have the sugar to sell. For these reasons, heavy cuts have already had to be made in supplies for manufacturing and catering. As has previously been announced, the 10-oz. domestic ration will be maintained, but only at cost of a reduction in the supplies of extra sugar issued during the jam-making season. It is too soon, as yet, to say how much will be available but when that is known my noble friend's suggestion will certainly be considered.
House adjourned at two minutes past four o'clock.