§ Sir EDWARD CARSONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether 259,000 quarters of wheat were imported into Holland during the week ending 13th December as against 73,000 quarters in the corresponding week of last year; whether, since the commencement of the cereal year on 1st August, 2,077,000 quarters have been imported into Holland as against 1,092,000 quarters in the corresponding period of last year; and, if so, whether the Board of Trade have any information as to the ultimate destination of the surplus; and, if these figures are inaccurate, what are the correct figures for the periods mentioned?
Mr. RUNCIMANThe actual quantity of wheat arrived in Netherlands ports in the week ended 13th December was 45,000 quarters, against a weekly average in December last of about 98,000 quarters. The corresponding figure for the entire period 1st August to 17th December (including the grain equivalent of imported flour) was 1,599,000 quarters as against a net importation in the last five months of 1914 of 1,058,000 quarters. Of the quantity imported since the beginning of August no less than 897,000 quarters were imported on account of the Belgian Belief Commission, leaving only 702,000 quarters for Dutch consumption.