§ Brigadier-General CROFTasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what was the quantity and value of sugar imported into the United Kingdom from Germany and Austria in 1890, 1900, and 1913, respectively; and (2) what was the quantity and value of sugar imported into the United Kingdom from British Possessions in 1890, 1900, and 1913?
§ Mr. G. ROBERTSPrior to 1904 no records are available with regard to the imports consigned from any particular country, imports being recorded generally according to the country from which the goods were shipped. In the following statement, therefore, particulars are given for all three years of the direct shipments of sugar from ports in the countries specified to the United Kingdom, figures being also added as regards the actual consignments of sugar from such countries in 1913.
991WIMPORTS of sugar from Germany, Austria-Hungary and British Possessions respectively, in each of the years 1890, 1900 and 1913:
(a) Quantities. —— Shipments. Consignments. Cwts. Cwts. From Germany— 1890 … … 11,890,947† * 1900 … … 15,080,831† * 1913 … … 22,463,378† 18,749,584 From Austria-Hungary— 1890 … … 43,300‡ * 1900 … … 295,286‡ * 1913 … … 3,541,280‡ 7,178,446 From British Possessions— 1890 … … 2,33 4,828 * 1900 … … 1,378,021 * 1913 … … 1,470,047 1,440,389
(b) Values. —— Shipments. Consignments. £ £ From Germany— 1890 … … 8,264,431 * 1900 … … 9,164,573 * 1913 … … 13,367,477 10,894,805 From Austria-Hungary— 1890 … … 28,910 * 1900 … … 164,183 * 1913 … … 1,822,047 4,250,696 From British Possessions— 1890 … … 1,568,845 * 1900 … … 889,221 * 1913 … … 947,895 930,933 * Not recorded prior to 1004. † These particulars include an unknown quantity of Russian and Austro-Hungarian sugar. ‡ These particulars may include some Russian sugar.
§ Mr. NIELDasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what is the justification for the Order of the Controller prohibiting, under penalties for an offence under the Defence of the Realm Regulations, negotiations for the sale or purchase of or other dealing in any sugar outside the United Kingdom; and is it contended that a British subject should not be concerned, even as agent for an American vendor, in the sale of sugar to Russia without a licence of the Food Controller except at the risk of being guilty 992W of an offence against Regulations framed under a Statute passed for a wholly different purpose?
Captain BATHURSTThe Order of the Food Controller prohibiting, under penalties for an offence under the Defence of the Realm Regulations, negotiations for the sale or purchase of or other dealing in any sugar outside the United Kingdom, was made with the object of stopping speculative dealings in sugar which had interfered with the opertaions of the Sugar Commission to the detriment of the public. The effect has been to place sugar in the same category as war material under Regulation 31a of the Defence of the Realm Regulations. Individual cases such as that suggested in the second half of the question cannot be entirely excluded from the scope of the Order, and are properly dealt with by way of licence, the obtaining of which does not impose any serious hardship on legitimate trade.
§ Mr. LUNDONasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can see his way to set up a separate Sugar Commission for Ireland so as to deal with the Irish situation?
Captain BATHURSTMy right hon. Friend has asked me to take this question. I regret that I am not in a position to add anything to the answer given to the hon. Member for county Meath on 12th February