§ Major WHELERasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that prior to August, 1914, the annual amount of sulphate of ammonia exported from Great Britain to Holland amounted to between 3,000 and 3,500 tons; and that in October, 1915, export licences were granted for Holland to the extent of 5,000 tons per month; whether he is aware that actual shipments for November to Holland totalled over 4,000 tons; and, seeing that the cost of sulphate of ammonia per ton 633W to the British farmer has increased by 50s. since the beginning of November, whether it is proposed to restrict the export of this fertiliser so that it may be obtained more cheaply for the benefit of British agriculture?
§ Mr. ACLANDThe figures stated are approximately correct. In reply to the last part of the question, I ask permission to refer to the answer given to-day to Question 39, put to me by the hon. Member for East Nottingham. During the months of November and December an arrangement was made by which ample supplies were reserved for agricultural use in those months at a price which remained the same for the two months. The question of providing for future home supply is receiving attention, and I am sending the hon. and gallant Member a copy of a letter to the Press, which appeared yesterday, which deals with the matter.