asked the Minister of Food whether the improvements in the capacity of sugar beet factories, forecast by him on 15th April, 1953, in answer to the hon. Member for Huntingdon, have now been completed; and whether he will now consult the British Sugar Corporation Limited with a view to their building a new sugar beet factory in the south of England.

The British Sugar Corporation's programme of reconstruction and improvement is not due to be completed until 1956. With reference to the second part of the Question, I have nothing at present to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture to my hon. Friend the Member for Newbury on 19th November, 1953.