§ 98. Mr. DAVISON DALZIELasked the total quantities of wheat, meat, and sugar per month taken out of the United Kingdom by merchant vessels in the form of 1813 ships' stores; whether the condition of affairs relating to ships' stores is in accord with the statement by the chairman of Messrs. Houlder Brothers and Company, Limited; and whether the Government will take steps to remove the obstacles placed in the way of shipowners who are endeavouring to assist in conserving the food supplies of the country?
Mr. ROBERTSI regret that it is not possible to give the figures asked for in the first part of the question. It is the wish of the Government to encourage the purchase of ships' stores at ports abroad instead of in the United Kingdom, and I understand that the somewhat special case to which the hon. Member refers has now been satisfactorily met.