Colonel THORNEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller whether he is aware that insufficiency of feeding-stuffs is due to shortage of shipping; whether he can account for shipping being refused in this respect but allowed to the extent of importing 1,779,336 lbs. of raw silk in the first nine months compared with 793,000lbs. in the corresponding period of last year; why shipping was allowed to import 7,000,000 un-enumerated furs; why 4,231,019 watches were imported and 1,418,943 watch cases; why 45,000,000 yards of silk manufactures were imported and other goods, revealed in the Board of Trade Returns, of a less useful character than feeding-stuffs; and whether a Report will be presented on the subject of shipping control?
§ Sir L. CHIOZZA MONEYI am glad to assure my hon. Friend that shipment of the luxury articles to which he refers has not been made at the cost of importing feeding-stuffs. The articles in question, which in aggregate weight do not amount altogether to more than a single cargo of grain, have been for the most part brought in Japanese and other foreign ships whose employment the Ministry of Shipping is not in a position to control. I should add that there is also a certain importation of luxury articles from France which does not displace food and which constitutes almost the only assistance we can give to the trade of our gallant Allies.