§ 60. Major NEWMANasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give the total money value of the flowers and fruit imported into this country during the last year of which he has a record; and whether in view of the recent curtailment of the import of necessaries such as paper pulp and petrol he can hold out hopes of a release of tonnage at present occupied in the carrying of flowers and fruit?
Mr. HARCOURTAs regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. and gallant Gentleman to the reply which I gave to the right hon. Member for the Bordesley Division of Birmingham on the 19th July, copy of which I am sending him. In addition to the prohibitions established some time ago on the import of dried and preserved fruits and vegetables, a Proclamation was issued on Friday last prohibiting the import of oranges from foreign countries except under licence. I hope that by permitting the import of oranges only in licensed ships it will be possible 36 to secure a considerable saving in tonnage without appreciably restricting the acutal quantities imported. There is no restriction on the import of petrol.