§ 40. Sir J. D. REESasked the President of the Board of Trade whether exports of wool from this country to Switzerland in 2244 1913 and 1914 were 930 and 500 bales, respectively, and that freight space has recently been booked for upwards of 5,000 such bales from London via Genoa to Switzerland, though it is understood that there are no mills in that country for the manufacture of cloth; and whether he will inquire into the actual destination of these exports if he finds that they have been or are about to be made?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMAN (representing the War Trade Department)I am informed that the number of pounds of wool contained in a bale varies, according to the country of production, from 350 lbs. to 1,000 lbs. The actual quantity exported from this country to Switzerland during 1913 and 1914 is shown in the Annual Statement of Trade at 370,000 lbs. and 193,800 lbs. respectively, and the quantity for which licence to export from the United Kingdom to Switzerland since the 1st December, 1915, is 1,393,280 lbs., but it is not known how much of this wool has been actually shipped. Licences invariably permit the export via a French port, and not an Italian port, and therefore it is impossible to say what freight space has been booked for shipment via Genoa. The ordinary consumption of wool in Switzerland amounts to about 12,000,000 lbs. per year, and I am not aware that there are no mills in Switzerland for the manufacture of cloth. If the hon. Member will give me full details of any transactions to which he refers, I will make full inquiries.