asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware of the extra labour and expense that will be caused to grocers by their having to dispense the new sugar allocation in separate packets of white and brown sugar; and if he will arrange that the increased allocation, which is in the form of brown sugar, be diverted entirely to confectionery and other manufacturing activities, so that the householder's ration may be made available in one portion consisting wholly of white sugar.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - New Sugar Allocation—Facilitating Merchants.
While I am aware that my decision to grant an extra ¼ lb. domestic ration in the form of brown sugar may involve grocers in some extra labour and expense, I am satisfied that any such additional expenditure would be offset by the profits accruing from the increased sugar sales.
The increase in the domestic sugar ration has been made possible only by the recent imports of brown sugar from Peru. After full examination of the position I decided that, with a view to reserving the greatest possible quantity of white sugar for domestic use, manufacturers and caterers would be required to accept at least 50 per cent. of their monthly sugar allowances in the form of brown sugar. In certain cases in which I am satisfied that manufacturers can dispense entirely with the use of white sugar in their processes, I propose to provide that the full monthly quotas must be drawn in the form of brown sugar. Even if manufacturers and caterers could utilise their full monthly quotas in the form of brown sugar, which I am satisfied is not the case, the quantity of white sugar thus released would not be sufficient to enable the increase of ¼ lb. in the weekly domestic ration to be provided in white instead of in brown sugar.