§ Mr. MacCAWasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Dutch Government have prohibited the exportation of flax seed from Holland; and, if so, in view of the shortage of flax seed in Ireland at the present time, whether the British Government will use its best endeavours to get this prohibition removed?
Mr. RUNCIMANThe export of flax seed from the Netherlands was prohibited by a Decree of the 24th September, 1914, but at a later date His Majesty's Minister at The Hague reported that the export of flax seed needed for sowing in Ireland160W would be permitted. Considerable quantities have in fact been exported to this country, but the possibility of continued shipments necessarily depends upon the sufficiency of supplies in the Netherlands for home requirements.