§ MR. LOUGHI beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, having regard to the quantity of food exported from Ireland, and to the fact that food forms the largest part of the imports into Great Britain, and in view of the desirability of making the returns of these imports complete and accurate, especially with regard to butter, meat, eggs, and poultry, he would undertake to separate in future editions of the Statistical Abstract and other returns of figures the exports and imports of Ireland from those of Great Britain.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINThe direct exports from and imports into Irish ports to and from countries abroad are already shown under each port in the second volume of the Annual Statement of Trade. These exports and imports, however, represent only a part of the trade carried on at such ports, the remaining portion of which consists chiefly 749 of movements of goods from and to Great Britain. The Customs have no machinery for taking an account of the quantities or values of such goods, and particulars of them cannot, therefore, be given.