§ 78. Mr. GILBERTasked the President of the Board of Trade the total amount of money that has been paid into English banks' blocked accounts for goods imported from Belgium since the War; and if the Government has allowed any charges on these accounts and, if so, for what amounts, or if they have allowed any of the money to be released for payment to-Belgium; and, if so, what amounts?
Mr. HARCOURTParticulars of the amounts in question are not available, and could not be obtained without elaborate inquiry. No charges on the blocked accounts are allowed or recognised, and all practical steps are taken, to prevent the raising of money in neutral countries on the security of the accounts. Licences are granted in suitable cases for the release of money from the blocked accounts for the payment of wages to workmen employed in the manufacture of the goods 315 exported from Belgium, for freight and insurance of such goods, and, in a few cases, for raw material of proved Belgian origin used in their manufacture.