§ 25. Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is in a position to make a statement with regard to the restrictions on fruit imports; and whether the same restrictions apply to what is known as Colonial fruit?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Runciman)The extent of the proposed restriction on the importation of fruits has not been definitely decided upon. Fruits, however, from all parts of the Empire will in any case be exempted from the restriction.
§ 27. Mr. BARNESasked the President of the Board of Trade if the Board contemplate restricting the importation of cheap fruit, such as apples and oranges; is he aware that these figure largely as food in working-class districts; if he has considered the effect of stopping or re-stricting imports upon the organising of the fruit industry generally; and if he is aware that the proposed restriction may have the effect of hampering the distribution of the Home fruit later in the year?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANNo final decision has yet been come to with regard to the classes of fruit the importation of which will be restricted. I recognise that any restriction of imports is bound to work hardship on some classes of the community, and it is only with great reluctance that the Government have come to the conclusion that such restrictions are absolutely necessary if we are to secure adequate cargo space for necessary imports.
§ 28. Major WHELERasked the President of the Board of Trade what is the number of hundredweights of hops imported into Great Britain during the past twelve months; and whether, as a ton of foreign hops occupies 253 cubic feet of freightage measurement, he will consider the desirability of prohibiting the import of hops so that the freight space thus occupied may be used for other articles of commerce?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe importation of hops into the United Kingdom in the year 1915 amounted to a little over 10,000 tons. I understand that the space occupied by a ton of hops is approximately that stated by the hon. and gallant Member. The amount of cargo space which would be re leased by a prohibition of importation hardly appears to be sufficient by itself to justify that course, but I would not dismiss the proposal prematurely.
§ 32. Mr. WHITEHOUSEasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state what proportion of the available tonnage is required for the transit of the materials imported for the purpose of the brewing trade?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe total weight of all materials used in brewing in the year ended 30th September, 1913 (the latest year for which particulars have been published), was approximately 1,000,000 tons. I have, however, no information as to how much of the materials was imported and how much was of home growth.
§ Mr. WHITEHOUSEIs it proposed to restrict the importation of these materials?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANWe are considering restriction of a great many materials, but this is not one which we have yet decided to restrict.
§ 33. Mr. WHITEHOUSEasked the President of the Board of Tarde what proportion of sugar now being imported into this country is required for the purpose of the brewing trade?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANIn the last three months of 1915 the sugar imported amounted to 380,000 tons, and the quantity used in brewing to nearly 32,000 tons, or 8¼ per cent, of the quantity imported in those months.
§ Mr. WHITEHOUSEWill it be possible for the brewing trade to import as much sugar as they require for the purpose of brewing?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThat question had better be put to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, but efforts are being made to restrict the consumption of sugar in this country with a view to setting tonnage space free.
§ Mr. WHITEHOUSEBy the brewing trade?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANBy everybody.
§ 34. Major NEWMANasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give the imports of paper pulp and grass for the manufacture of paper for a full year prior to the outbreak of war and the import of the same materials for the year ending 31st December, 1915, or any other convenient period of a year since the outbreak of hostilities?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe imports of wood pulp in 1913 amounted to 977,757 tons and the imports of esparto and other vegetable fibre for making paper to 204,957 tons. The corresponding figures for 1915 were 954,050 tons and 137,538 tons. Those are tons weight; the tonnage used measured in cubic space is greater.
§ 35. Major NEWMANasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give the percentage of the rise in the wholesale price of paper used for printing since the outbreak of hostilities?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI have no exact information on the subject, and the varieties of paper are in any case so numerous that it 237 would be difficult to give a satisfactory average. I understand, however, that between July, 1914, and January, 1916, the average declared value of imported printing paper on reels increased by 43 per cent.
§ 36. Major NEWMANasked the President of the Board of Trade whether a decision has yet been arrived at with regard to the restriction of the importation of the raw articles used in the brewing and distilling industries?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThis matter is still under consideration, and no final decision has been arrived at.
§ Mr. OUTHWAITEDoes the fact of its still being under consideration show that the Government think it more important not to restrict the materials for beer and to restrict that of sugar and print? Would it not be more just to restrict the importation first of all of brewing materials?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is a matter for argument.
§ 37. Major NEWMANasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can make any further statement with regard to the cutting down of imports of paper pulp and grass for the manufacture of paper; and whether he has consulted the Master Printers' Association before arriving at any conclusion?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANA Proclamation was issued on 15th February prohibiting the importation as from the 1st March, except under licence, of all paper and paper-making materials. It is intended that licences shall for the present so be regulated as to secure the reduction of the imports by 33⅓ per cent. This decision has been arrived at after full consultation with representatives of all the principal interests likely to be affected.