§ 1. Mr. R. MORRISONasked the President of the Board of Trade the amount of mats and matting imported from India, Belgium and Holland, respectively, during the past 12 months as compared with 1914.
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Herbert Williams)The answer is in the form of a table of figures, and the hon. Member will perhaps permit me to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the answer:
§ Mr. H. WILLIAMSStatistics of exports from the United States, Germany and France to Afghanistan are not available, and such data as are available concerning exports to Afghanistan from the United Kingdom are incomplete, as they do not include goods which, on their way to Afghanistan, pass into the ownership of Indian merchants. Afghanistan has not accorded any specific commercial advantages either to this country or, so 659 far as is known, to any of the other countries named in the question.
Sir F. HALLIs it a fact that these other countries are doing what they can to develop their industries in and around Afghanistan, and will the Board of Trade take such steps as are possible to facilitate and help British industries in that area?
§ Mr. WILLIAMSWe are always taking all the steps that we can.