HC Deb 18 July 1916 vol 84 cc863-5W
Mr. PRINGLE

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) whether he can state the amount of lard imported into Belgium in 1913 and the amount imported by the Neutrals' Relief Commission during the six months ending 30th June, 1916; and (2) whether he can state the monthly importations, in tons, of lard into Belgium by the Neutrals' Relief Commission up to 30th June, 1916?

Lord R. CECIL

The following is a statement of the monthly importation, in metric tons, of lard into Belgium by the Neutrals' Relief Commission up to 30th June, 1916:

Belgium and North France (Bacon and Lard):
November, 1914 67
December 1914 150
January 1915 110
February 1915 204
March 1915 1,908
April 1915 457
May 1915 1,243
June 1915 5,692
July 1915 3,992
August 1915 2,578
September 1915 6,811
October 1915 6,140
Belgium only (Lard only):
November, 1915 667
December 1915 2,060
January, 1916 1,413
February 1916 2,292
March 1916 1,309
April 1916 1,258
May 1916 1,040
June 1916 3,396

The figures from November, 1914, to October, 1915, inclusive, make no distinction between bacon and lard, nor between importations into Belgium and into Northern France.

During this period the statistics were kept by weeks, the importations for any week beginning on a day of one month and ending on a day of the next month being included in the total for the latter month. Consequently, the figures for December, 1914, and for March, June, and September, 1915, included five weeks each and the rest four. From November, 1915, onwards the month is reckoned from the 26th to the 26th in each case.

Imports of lard into Belgium for 1913 were given under the general heading "Tallow and other Fats." The net import under this heading was 12,011 tons.

Mr. PRINGLE

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can state the monthly importation, in tons, of foodstuffs into Belgium by the Neutrals' Relief Commission up to 30th Tune, 1916.

Lord R. CECIL

The following is a statement of the monthly importation, in metric tons, of foodstuffs into Belgium by the Neutrals' Relief Commission up to 30th June, 1916:

Belgium and North France.
November, 1914 20,049
December 1914 39,494
January 1915 62,561
February 1915 67,020
March 1915 105,673
April 1915 94,737
May 1915 91,055
June 1915 126,023
July 1915 56,769
August 1915 79,619
September 1915 89,549
October 1915 87,884
Belgium only.
November, 1915 85,256
December 1915 67,746
January 1916 82,869
February 1916 77,915
March 1916 47,351
April 1916 44,591
May 1916 77,193
June 1916 70,816

See footnote to table in answer to preceding questions.