§ 19. Sir WILLIAM DAVISONasked the President of the Board of Trade the total tonnage of currants and raisins imported into Great Britain from Spain and the United States of America during the past year; and whether consideration has been given to the possibility of taking larger supplies of these commodities from Australia, having regard to the large adverse balance of trade between this country and Spain and the United States, respectively?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe total imports of raisins into the United Kingdom in 1934 were 1,192,000 cwts., of which 106,000 cwts. were from Spain and 282,000 cwts. from the United States of America. There were no appreciable imports of currants from these two countries. As regards the last part of the question, I would remind my hon. Friend that the preference accorded to Empire raisins was substantially increased under the Ottawa Agreements.