§ Mr. Blakerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the difficulties of confectionery makers because of the shortage of sugar supplies; and if, in view of the working of the present system of allocation of supplies, he will make arrangements to revise the system.
§ Mr. BuchanIn conjunction with the refiners and representatives of the food manufacturing industry, we are urgently studying ways in which to improve the allocation system.
555WI would emphasise, first, that these difficulties arise not from any shortage in total supplies, which I do not consider likely in the immediate future, but from the fact that only a limited proportion can be supplied at normal prices; and second, that any improvements in the present arrangements can be reached only by voluntary agreement between the refining companies and the food manufacturing industry. This is the possibility that we are actively pursuing.