COTTON.

HC Deb 08 July 1918 vol 108 cc57-8W

Sir R. COOPER

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many bales of cotton are stored in Manchester awaiting shipment to neutral countries?

Sir A. STANLEY

I cannot state the precise quantity, if any, but it certainly is very small.

Sir R. COOPER

asked the President of the Board of Trade which European neutral countries imported an appreciably larger quantity of raw cotton during 1917 than in 1913?

Sir A. STANLEY

In the case of Spain it would appear that the imports of raw cotton in 1917 exceeded those of 1913 by about 10 per cent. In the case of other European countries the raw cotton imported in 1917 was less than in 1913.

Sir R. COOPER

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many bales of raw cotton were imported into Portugal and Switzerland, respectively, during 1917?

Sir A. STANLEY

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. The quantity of raw cotton recorded as imported into Switzerland during 1917 was 20,299 metric tons, equivalent to 89,478 bales of 500 lbs. each. The official returns of imports into Portugal during 1917 have not yet been received. I will inquire whether the information can be procured and communicate the result to the hon. Baronet.