§ SIR J. COLOMB (Great Yarmouth)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade whether the Department collects and records information respecting the cost of freight and marine insurance prevailing at the chief ports of the world at different periods of the year; and whether it is proposed to make any special arrangements for ascertaining and recording variations in the cost of freight and marine insurance respectively for inward and outward voyages to and from the ports of Spain and the United States, during the current year?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADEInformation of this kind has not hitherto been collected in my Department, inasmuch as the numerous and constantly changing rates are already dealt with by the associations interested and by private enterprise. I do not contemplate making any special arrangements of the nature indicated by the hon. Member.