HC Deb 12 June 1913 vol 53 cc1768-9
34. Mr. O'DOWD

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland), whether he is aware that sugar beet can be profitably grown in Ireland; and, if so, whether the Department will take some steps to encourage the growth of the crop in that country?

Mr. T. W. RUSSELL (Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture, Ireland)

The Department have for some time been carrying out experiments regarding the cultivation of sugar beet, and good crops have been grown in connection with these experiments, which are being continued. If, however, the prices hitherto offered by sugar factories continue as at present, the Department would not, as a result of their trials, be justified in recommending generally the cultivation of beet in preference to other root crops

86. Mr. O'DOWD

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the amount annually expended on the importation of sugar beet from Germany and Holland into these countries?

The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Buxton)

The imports of sugar beetroots into the United Kingdom are not of sufficient importance to be separately recorded in the official trade Returns of this country, but according to the official Returns for 1911 of Germany and the Netherlands, no beets were exported in that year from the former country to the United Kingdom, and only eleven tons from the latter.

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