§ Mr. BRUNNER(by Private Notice) asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the export of salt is prohibited; whether this prohibition involves the stoppage of half the salt trade of the United Kingdom, the loss of £700,000 in exports, and the dismissal of approximately 2,500 employés; and whether the President will state the reasons for this prohibition?
§ Mr. WARDLEThe exportation of salt to all destinations has been prohibited 437 except under licence, in view of the possibility that the coal supplied to salt works may have to be reduced substantially, and that the output of salt may be reduced correspondingly. In view of this situation it has been felt neccesary to control exportation in order to secure the maintenance of adequate supplies for domestic consumption and in order to ensure that our Dominions and Colonies shall secure a preferential share of the reduced quantities available for export. There is no intention of stopping the exportation of salt, but only of restricting it to some extent and of regulating its flow.
§ Mr. BRUNNERCan the hon. Gentleman tell us whether other trades are to be affected this way?
§ Mr. WARDLEThat will depend entirely upon the coal supply. I believe that other trades will be affected if the shortage continues.