§ MR. BOLANDI beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade whether he is aware that in some of the Consular Reports, as, for example, Boston and Philadelphia, the trade statistics for Ireland are set out separately, but that in the majority of the Reports Ireland is treated as part of the United Kingdom or is merged in the designation of England; and whether, with a view to securing the necessary information for Irish trade, instructions will be given to all the Consuls to set out in all future Reports separate statistics showing the trade between Ireland and the countries or special districts for which they are Consuls.
§ MR. BONAR LAWThe facts are as stated in the Question. Consuls are dependent in preparing their Reports on the statistics accessible in their various districts. In most Consular districts it is not possible to obtain statistics of trade with the various parts of the United Kingdom separately, so that a general instruction of the nature suggested would not serve a useful purpose. The hon. Member will, however, find some details that may interest him of the imports into the United States as a whole from Irish ports in the December number of the Monthly Summary of Commerce of the United States, which he can consult at the Board of Trade. I understand that the Foreign Office have no objection to including any available figures on this subject in future Reports of the British 1142 Commercial Agent on the trade of the United States.