§ Mr. BUTCHERasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the amount and value of the imports into this country from Switzerland of chocolate and other cocoa preparations in each of the periods of six months ending 30th June, 1913; 30th June, 1914, and 30th June, 1915, respectively; whether these imports contained a very large amount of sugar imported into Switzerland from Germany and Austria; and whether, with a view to lessening the import into this country of foreign-manufactured articles of the nature of luxuries, and to prevent the exportation into this country from Germany and Austria of sugar of enemy origin, he will take steps either entirely to prohibit the importation from Switzerland of chocolate and other cocoa preparations or to place a substantial Import Duty thereon?
Mr. RUNCIMANThe following statement shows the quantity and value of "preparations of cocoa" consigned from Switzerland into the United Kingdom during the period of six months ended 30th June in each of the years 1913–14–15:
Quantity. Value. Cwts. £ January to June, 1913 … 41,512 341,619 January to June, 1914 … 52,355 434,704 January to June, 1915 … 96,564 811,362