§ Colonel YATEasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the total amount and value, up to 1st October, 1916, of goods of enemy origin imported into the United Kingdom since the beginning of the War; and what was the proportion and value of these goods imported under licence?
§ Mr. PRETYMANThe importation of goods of enemy origin except under licence is, of course, prohibited, and licences are only issued in exceptional cases where the importation is clearly in the national interest. I regret that no statistics are available as to the quantity or value of goods which have been imported under such licences, as for statistical purposes imports into the United 239W Kingdom are classified according to the country of consignment and not the country of origin.
NOTE.—The licences issued have in a number of cases, especially in the early days of the War, not specified particular quantities, but have been general in character. General licences have, for instance, been issued for spelter, potash. Turkish fruits, etc, etc. Very few such general licences are now in operation, but we have no record as to the imports under them. Moreover, where licences for specific quantities have been issued the licencees have frequently been unable to use them to the full.