asked the Minister for Supplies whether he is aware that the basis of distribution for sugar has been altered four times within the last three weeks and whether he will state what is the final quota basis on which the balance of sugar stocks will be distributed this year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sugar Quota.
It is not correct that the basis of distribution of sugar has been altered as stated by the Deputy.
In regard to the second part of the Deputy's question, the intention of Comhlucht Siúicre Eireann Teo, with my approval is to maintain the present restriction on deliveries until the excess purchases made during March and April of this year have been brought back into circulation. The restrictions in the case of indvidual merchants will continue to be related directly to any excess purchases that have been made by them.
Does the Minister realise that everybody is very willing and ready to co-operate if he would only state explicitly what he wishes done? Is he aware that the most recent basis of allocation I have been able to find is as follows: One-twelfth of your drawings of sugar in 1940, less the difference between what you would have drawn in April, May and June of this year had that basis of allocation been operating last April and what you actually drew in April, May and June of last year. Will the Minister please advert to the fact that 90 per cent. of merchants do not know what quantity they are supposed to get and, not knowing that, are unable to ration their own customers so as to make their supplies last? Will the Minister not consider telling merchants that they will get 25 per cent., 30 per cent., or 40 per cent., or whatever he can afford to give them, of their 1940 drawings, month by month, and let them proceed to ration their customers accordingly?
The sugar company circulated a memorandum to all their customers explaining the procedure they adopted.
I think my explanation is approximately correct and that the allocation was along the lines I have outlined. If that is not correct, I am giving the Minister an opportunity of stating what the basis of allocation is, so that the shopkeepers may proceed to ration their customers. At present, we do not know, and cannot find out, what the basis of allocation is. Will the Minister say what percentage of their former requirements the shopkeepers of the country are to get? We know that there has been illegitimate export of sugar, and it may be that an appreciable quantity of sugar has gone out. Would the Minister say what percentage of their 1940 drawings traders are to get?
As I have explained in my answer to the question, the restrictions in the case of individual merchants will continue to be related to any excess purchases which have been made by them.
Will the Minister say this: "You will get such a percentage of what you drew in 1940, less five bags a month or six bags a month?"
Yes.
But that is not being done.
It has been done so far as the customers of the sugar company are concerned.
There is no clarification in the country about it. Some basis of allocation ought to be arrived at whereby traders would know what they would receive. That is all they want to know. Then they will have an opportunity of co-operating with the Ministry of Supplies in distributing the available supply.
On the 28th June the sugar company sent out a circular communication to each customer setting out the quantity of sugar he would get for July.