§ 33. Sir JOHN LONSDALEasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if he has received protests against the prohibition by the Government of the export from Ireland of grass seed to Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and other neutral countries; if he is aware of the reasons for this embargo; and, if consistent with the public interests, he can take any steps with a view to its removal?
§ Mr. RUSSELL (Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture, Ireland)A number of protests against the prohibition of the exportation of grass seed have been received by the Department. The Department are not aware of the circumstances in which "grass seed" was included in the list of articles, the exportation to which to certain neutral countries is at present prohibited under Royal Proclamation. Representations have already been made by the Department to the Board of Trade in favour of relaxation of the prohibition so far as may be possible, consistently with securing that exports are not used for the benefit of the enemy.
§ Sir J. LONSDALEWith regard to this matter, will the right hon. Gentleman say when the decision will be arrived at, having regard to the enormous amount of difficulty that has been caused in Ireland?
§ Mr. RUSSELLWhen we received these applications we advised the trade that they should ask for licences, and applications have been forwarded, and in every case they have been replied to.