HC Deb 08 December 1920 vol 135 c2129W
Captain REDMOND

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether, in view of the fact that the food ministry of the Department have already secured sufficient surplus butter supplies for all winter requirements in Ireland, the embargo on the export of butter from Ireland will be immediately removed, as its continuance under the circumstances is unreasonable and is causing much loss to both producers and traders?

Sir H. GREENWOOD

I am informed by the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland that the normal production of butter in Ireland during the next three months is wholly inadequate for the needs of the Irish people. On the 13th instant the Department will commence gradually to liberate butter specially put in cold store during autumn to meet the needs of the winter period of scarcity. If control were now removed much of this butter would be exported. Control could not be removed earlier than the 31st March next.