§ 19. Mr. Stokesasked the President of the Board of Trade how much Irish whiskey was exported from Great Britain in 1952; and at what price per bottle.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftI regret that this information is not available, since exports of Irish whiskey are not separately recorded.
§ Mr. StokesIs the President aware that last week I was told by his Department that there were no exports of Irish whiskey to the United States from Northern Ireland, and yet a notice appeared in the Press confirmed by one of the chief distillers, that a considerable quantity was exported from Northern Ireland? Is it not chicanery to tell the House none was exported when what in fact happened was that the whiskey was sent from Belfast to Scotland and Northern England and thence shipped to the United States?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftI think the right hon. Gentleman has got the picture quite correct. They were in fact exported from Glasgow.
§ Mr. StokesWhy was I not told so last week?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftI do not think the right hon. Gentleman asked that question.
§ Mr. StokesWhen a Member is genuinely seeking information as I was—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] I was. I had not the slightest idea of what the answer was. When a Member asks a question of that kind surely it is the responsibility of the Department to say, "No, but, of course, this whiskey was shipped from 186 Scotland or Northern England," and not to say none was, because that is not true.
§ Sir T. MooreTo elucidate this matter, does not the right hon. Gentleman's Question refer to Great Britain, and the answer and supplementary to Northern Ireland? He must really find out what he wants to know.
§ Mr. StokesIf I can teach my grandmother to suck eggs, may I ask the President if he is aware that his hon. and gallant Friend has not the slightest idea what he is talking about?
§ Colonel Gomme-DuncanIs it a fact that when this inferior brand of whiskey gets to Scotland it is being virtually exported as Scotch whisky?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftI think that Irish whiskey sells upon its merits.