§ Mr. HALPIN (Clare, W.)I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland), whether he is aware that in the nine weeks ending 1st February 578 cwts. of fresh milk were 897 imported into Great Britain and Ireland compared with only 15 cwts. in the corresponding period ending 1st February 1907, of cream 1,520 against 956 cwts., and of preserved milk 138,710 cwts. compared with 135,744 cwts.; and whether, taking into account the death-rate of infants in Great Britain and Ireland, in the latter country, in 1906, 11,756 deaths occurred, the Government will prohibit imports of foreign milk and cream into the British Isles.
§ THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR IRELAND (Mr. T. W. RUSSELL,) Tyrone, S.The figures quoted as regards the imports of milk, cream, &c, are substantially correct. The prohibition of the importation of such commodities is not a matter within the province of the Department.