HC Deb 12 November 1918 vol 110 cc2496-7
66. Mr. BRADY

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why no cargoes of sugar, tea, or tobacco have been sent to the Custom House Docks, Dublin, during the current year, thus depriving the Dublin Port and Docks Board of their fair share of the storage; and whether he will take steps to remedy this state of things?

101. Mr. BYRNE

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller why no cargoes of sugar, tea, or tobacco have been sent to the Custom House Docks, Dublin, during the current year; why the Dublin Port and Docks Board is deprived of this trade; and if he will take steps to prevent Dublin traffic being diverted to other ports?

114. Mr. FIELD

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state what measures have been taken to prevent the diversion of traffic from Dublin and to restore its normal conditions of importation?

174. Mr. NUGENT

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware of a complaint made by the manager of the Port and Docks Board, Dublin, with reference to the diversion of trade from Dublin to other ports; if he is aware that in the statement published by the secretary of the Port and Docks it is alleged that the stock of sugar on 31st December, 1917, was 48,000 bags, and on the 30th October, 1918, 1,379 bags; that no foreign sugar cargo has been sent to Ireland during the current year, although many have been sent to London, Liverpool, Manchester, Bristol, and Glasgow, involving transhipment, expense, and delay, and incidentally depriving the Board of their share of the storage; if he is aware that the normal stock of tobacco was 2,800 hogsheads, but that it is now 558 hogsheads, whilst the total imports into the United Kingdom were 170,000 hogsheads, 178,000 hogsheads, and 106,000, respectively, in 1915, 1916, and 1917, and 78,000 this year; that all tobacco is now being handled for Ireland at Liverpool and Manchester, where congestion is rife and delays vexatious, and the cost of cross-Channel freights have to be borne by the importers in Dublin, so that the Board are again deprived of their share of storage; if he is aware that the normal stock of tea was roughly 700,000 lbs., whereas the present stock is only 35,000 lbs.; that all Irish teas are now handled exclusively at Liverpool and Manchester, and the same remarks as to cost and delay apply as in the case of tobacco; whether he is aware of the proportions that the pilferage of tea has assumed; whether he is aware that the total stock of tea in bond in the United Kingdom on the 30th September was 90,000,000 lbs. against a normal 150,000,000 lbs. of five months' supply; that the proportion of the normal was ½ per cent., and the proportion of the present stock is only 1/25th of 1 per cent.; whether he is aware that the Board have exhausted every effort in making their representation to the Tea and Tobacco Controllers of the inconvenience and expense caused to the Irish consumers by reason of the neutral traffic being diverted to English ports, and the loss of revenue thereby caused to the Board; that the Sugar Commission informed the manager of the Dublin ports that they cannot see their way to send another sugar cargo direct to Ireland at present; and that this is detrimental to the port of Dublin and the Irish trade generally; and, if so, what action he intends to take in the matter?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of SHIPPING (Sir Leo Chiozza Money)

I have been asked to reply to these questions. We are fully aware of the difficulties referred to in these questions, which have been caused, as I explained to the hon. Member for the St. Patrick's Division of Dublin on 6th November, solely by the exigencies of war. With regard to sugar, not only are supplies restricted, but for a long time past only unrefined sugar has been available, and this has had to be brought first to England to be refined. In the case of tea, I am informed that it was never delivered direct to Ireland in any quantity. Tobacco is still shipped direct by the Head Line, but calls are unfortunately fewer owing to losses and necessary diversions. We earnestly hope, however, that in the new situation which now obtains normal conditions can presently be resumed.