asked the Minister of Food whether he is satisfied that he will be able to provide enough sugar to make into jam the present supplies of fruit pulp held by jam manufacturers, and the coming season's home-grown fruit crop; and will he prohibit the importation of any further supplies of fruit pulp until he is so satisfied?

All endeavours are being and will be made to provide sufficient sugar for the purposes referred to in the first part of the Question but, naturally, I can give no definite guarantee as to the future. As regards the second part of the Question, an Order has been issued prohibiting the import, except under licence, of further supplies of fruit pulp, and the questions whether licences should be issued and, if so, to what extent, are being considered in consultation with the agricultural and trade interests concerned.

Can we have a guarantee, at any rate, that the amount of sugar available to the housewife for making jam from home-grown fruit will not be jeopardised by any importation under licence of fruit pulp?

Certainly.