HC Deb 23 May 1881 vol 261 cc1052-3
MR. W. CORBET

asked the President of the Board of Trade, If his attention has been called to a Return issued to Members on Wednesday the 18th instant, "of all Exports and imports of Copper and Copper Ore, &c." for the year 1880; whether he has observed that Ireland is not credited with any exports whatever; whether he is aware that the "Wicklow Copper Mine Company," incorporated under the Act 26 Vic. c. 209, have for years carried on mining operations and exported ores from the port of Arklow; whether such exportations have now ceased altogether; and, if not, whether he can state what is the reason for omitting all mention of them from the Return in question?

LORD FREDERICK CAVENDISH

Sir, as this Return is prepared by the Customs Department, I have to answer the Question on behalf of the Treasury. If the hon. Member will look again at the Return, he will see that it only professes to give the exports and imports from and into the United Kingdom. It does not profess to include removals coastwise, or from one part of the United Kingdom to another. I have no knowledge whether or not there has been copper or copper ore sent from Arklow to England; but if there were it would not appear in this Return.