HC Deb 09 April 1934 vol 288 cc12-4
12. Mr. DAVID GRENFELL

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of trade between the Irish Free State and the United Kingdom in each month from 31st December, 1931, to the latest available date and the principal commodities in which changes have taken place?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Dr. Burgin)

It is obviously impracticable, within the limits of a Parliamentary answer, to deal in detail with the course of our trade with the Irish Free State during the past two years. The aggregate value of this trade is normally compiled in respect of calendar years and quarterly periods only, and these totals are published in the Accounts relating to Trade and Navigation of the United Kingdom. Detailed particulars of the trade between the two countries for the year 1932 are available in the latest issue of the Annual Statement of the Trade of the United Kingdom, while monthly particulars of the trade in the principal commodities, up to February, 1934, are available in the Monthly Trade Accounts.

Mr. GRENFELL

I am much obliged to the hon. Gentleman. Am I to understand and assume that the hon. Gentleman and his Department are watching these figures and are taking account of the shrinkage in them?

Dr. BURGIN

Certainly.

16. Mr. GRENFELL

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he will state the position regarding the dispute with the Irish Free State Government; and whether, having regard to the injury to trade and the loss incurred by both countries, he is prepared to resume discussions with a view to a settlement of the annuities dispute by arbitration or any other acceptable method of adjudicating upon the question?

The SECRETARY of STATE for DOMINION AFFAIRS (Mr. J. H. Thomas)

The question of the land annuities forms only part of the dispute with the Irish Free State. This dispute, as I would remind the House, was caused by the non-observance by the present Irish Free State Government of certain provisions of the Treaty Settlement of 1921, and involves also important political issues. The United Kingdom Government would be very willing to resume discussions with the Irish Free State Government with a view to settlement of all the questions outstanding; but there must first be an acceptable basis of discussion.

Mr. GRENFELL

Is not every dispute said to be about the non-observance of some agreement by some person or other, and is it not time that this allegation was examined more or less impartially in order that this House and the world may see if there is not a way of getting out of the difficulty?

Mr. THOMAS

Nothing would be more welcome to the British Government than an impartial discussion of this dispute. Unfortunately, as I have repeated from time to time, though we have made that offer, it is not acceptable on the other side.

Mr. GRENFELL

Is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to meet Mr. de Valera—just the two of them—to see if they can get over this difficulty?

Mr. THOMAS

My hon. Friend knows perfectly well that I never shirked meeting anybody.

Mr. LOGAN

Is an agreement in regard to an impartial tribunal beyond the realms of possibility? I believe that is one point upon which there is difference of opinion.

Mr. THOMAS

Obviously, the hon. Member did not hear the first part of my answer, which was that the land annuities are to-day unfortunately only part of the dispute. There is still the Treaty for which many Irishmen gave their lives, and we want to see it observed.

Lieut.-Colonel MOORE

Has the President of the Irish Free State given any indication of his desire to re-open discussion of this matter?

Mr. THOMAS

None whatever.

23. Mr. GRENFELL

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the aggregate value of Import Duties collected on imports from the Irish Free State since they were first imposed?

Mr. HORE-BELISHA

The revenue collected on imports from the Irish Free State under the Irish Free State (Special Duties) Act, 1932, and the Import Duties Act, 1932, amounted to £2,514,000 in 1932.33. As regards 1933–34 it is not usual to supply figures of revenue for the complete year in advance of the Budget, and I would ask the hon. Member to await the Budget statement.

Mr. GRENFELL

Is it not now clear that we are getting very little out of these extraordinary measures, and that the game is not worth the candle?

Mr. HORE-BELISHA

I think that the hon. Gentleman may have reason to withdraw that question when he sees the figures.