§ Mr. GOLDSTONEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the freights now being paid on sugar, meat, and wheat purchased by or on behalf of the Government are in excess of those paid in the period immediately preceding the War; and, if so, whether he will state for each of these commodities and for the chief ports of export the freights charged in July, 1914, and those now quoted?
Mr. HARCOURTThe rates of freight now being paid on sugar and meat are the 2087W subject of special arrangements, the details of which I am not prepared to make public at present. Rates of freight on wheat cargoes vary considerably from day to day in some instances. The most important rate is that across the North Atlantic. I understand that the average rate in July, 1914, for wheat from Philadelphia or Baltimore to the United Kingdom was 2s. 4½d. per quarter, while in the week ending 12th August last the average was 11s. 5d. per quarter.