asked the Minister of Food how much sugar has been produced in the sugar beet campaign which has recently ended.

Production from the 1950–51 campaign amounted to 374,000 tons refined and 330,000 tons of raw sugar—equivalent, in all, to 677,000 tons of refined sugar.

Can my hon. Friend say how these figures compare with the previous year?

Yes, Sir, they constitute a record.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary estimate how much sugar was lost through delay in processing, because not enough factories were available to take the crop this year?

I can assure the House that very little was lost. The Corporation and all the employees did a grand job.

In view of the magnificent production record of the British Sugar Corporation in this matter, will the hon. Gentleman resist any future temptation to meddle in the industry by nationalisation?