§ 49. Mr. CROFTasked what proportion, of the £468,000 worth of confectionery imported into Ireland in 1910 was of British, manufacture; and what were the countries of origin of the balance which was not of British origin?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Birrell)All the confectionery imported into Ireland in 1910 came viâ Great Britain. It is not possible to say 1661 how much was British manufacture and how much was foreign, or to give the countries of origin of the latter.
§ Mr. HEWINSIs it not most important that we should have that information in order to discuss the fiscal provisions of the Home Rule Bill?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI am sorry we have not got the information. I hope, under the provisions of the Bill, it will be forthcoming in future.
§ Mr. HEWINSIs it quite proper to obtain statutory powers to get the necessary information?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI will consider the point.
§ Mr. LOUGHIs there power to ascertain the value of any imports into Ireland, and can it be ascertained until an Irish Customs House is set up?
§ Mr. BIRRELLNo, it is not possible to obtain this information or the information my right hon. Friend requires without those regulations.
§ 50. Mr. CROFTasked what were the countries of origin of the £1,809,000 worth of sugar imported into Ireland in 1910; and what proportion of this was beet and cane sugar, respectively, and refined and unrefined, respectively?
§ Mr. BIRRELLNearly half of the sugar imported into Ireland in 1910 was imported direct from abroad, the remainder being imported viâ Great Britain. As regards the latter portion, no information is available as to the countries of origin or as to the quantities of the respective kinds of sugar mentioned in the question. The direct imports consisted entirely of refined sugar, and came originally from Austria-Hungary, the Netherlands, Germany, France, and Belgium. It cannot be stated how much of these direct imports was beet sugar and how much cane sugar.