§ 32. Colonel YATEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Blockade when the export of tea was placed under licence; what was the amount of tea exported during the first three-quarters of the present year. respectively; what amount has been licensed for export during the present quarter; and how much of that has still to go?
§ Lord R. CECILProhibitions against the export of tea were imposed on two occasions since the commencement of the War, but were withdrawn after short intervals. A further prohibition against the export of tea to certain countries in Europe was imposed on the 28th June, 1916; this was extended on the 19th February, 1917, to all destinations, and is still in force.
The quantities of tea exported during the first three-quarters of the present year, respectively, were: —
The quantity licensed for export during the present quarter commencing on 1st October was 56 tons, but I am unable to state to what extent the whole of this quantity has been shipped. I may explain that with the exception of 4 tons, the quantity licensed for 848 export during the present quarter is made up of green tea, which was sent almost entirely to French Possessions and to Morocco. The remainder (except a small quantity, less than 300 lbs.) was for British Possessions.
Tons. Quarter ending 31st March 4,177 Quarter ending 30th June 1,111 Quarter ending 30th September 800
§ Colonel YATEWas not the export of 4,000 tons in the first quarter probably responsible for the shortage of tea in this country?
§ Lord R. CECILI do not know about that.