§ Mr. FIELDasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that the present system does not provide adequate machinery for the correct collection of statistics and other important issues closely connected with the safeguarding and improvement of Irish commerce, he will consider the advisability of establishing a branch of the Board of Trade in Ireland; and whether he is aware that this request has been many time's made and under consideration?
Mr. RUNCIMANI am aware that the question to which the hon. Member refers has been raised by him from time to time. As at present advised, I have nothing to add to the answers given by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary for Ireland oil the 16th November, and by myself on the 10th February, except to say that if what the hon. Member has in his mind is the desirability of obtaining statistics of cross-channel traffic, I doubt if the mere establishment of a branch of the Board of Trade in Ireland would help him, as they have no legal power at present to collect such statistics.