§ Mr. BOLAND (Kerry, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade whether any general instructions have 83 been given to Consuls to collect information as regards trade with the United Kingdom as a whole, thereby releasing them from any obligation to use their best endeavours to secure information as to the trade with Ireland specifically.
§ THE UNDER - SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Earl PERCY,) Kensington, S.It is the duty of the Consular officers in the first place to collect information as regards trade with the United Kingdom as a whole, but no instruction has been issued discouraging them from securing such information as may be available as to trade with the various parts of the United Kingdom separately. Special Reports have, however, from time to time been obtained from His Majesty's representatives abroad at the request of the Irish Department of Agriculture on matters of interest to Ireland.