§ Dr. Littleasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in order to end the wholesale smuggling of food and other commodities across the border from Northern Ireland into Eire, he will have such goody destined for Northern Ireland as flour, tea, coffee, cocoa, candles, oil and other merchandise which is being smuggled, properly checked before they are exported from Britain; and arrange, in conjunction with the British Home Secretary and the Government of Northern Ireland, to have the border more closely and carefully guarded to deal with smugglers than it has been up to the present?
Major Lloyd GeorgeAs regards smuggling of flour into Eire, statutory restrictions which have been in force since April, 1941, prohibiting the delivery to any person in Northern Ireland of any flour in excess of his 1938–39 trade are now being made more stringent. Shipments of flour from mills in Great Britain to Northern Ireland have already been stopped. As regards tea some steps have already been taken and further measures are being put into operation almost immediately to stop illicit trading. As regards coffee and cocoa I have no evidence of any substantial amount of smuggling into Eire. As to candles and oils my hon. Friend is doubtless aware that the Ministry of Food is not responsible for controlling the supply and distribution of these commodities. As regards the last part of my hon. Friend's Question I would refer him to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.