§ Mr. BARNESasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will submit a Return to the House showing the amount of sugar imported into this country during 1922 from places within the Empire and from other countries?
§ Viscount WOLMERThe following statement shows the quantities of unrefined and refined sugar imported into the United Kingdom during the year 1922, specifying the countries whence consigned:
whether such notice may be interpreted as a warning of the risk of confiscation of goods passing through the Ruhr into occupied Germany; whether his attention has been called to a statement by an official of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce that the inference to be drawn 1063W from the Board of Trade warning is clearly that goods passing through the Ruhr are in danger of being confiscated because they are not covered by a licence which is recognised; whether such inference is correct; whether he has any information that Manchester exporters are holding back goods because of the present uncertainty and risk; and what action, if any, the Board of Trade are taking in the matter?
§ Viscount WOLMERThe notice in question referred to trade between this country and occupied Germany, and was intended to warn British traders of the risk to goods passing through unoccupied Germany which were covered only by licences not recognised by the German Government. Full information with regard to the present import and export regulations in the occupied areas will be found in the "Board of Trade Journal" for 1st March (pages 276–7) and 8th March (page 313). I have not seen the statement referred to, which, as quoted, is incorrect. His Majesty's Government are aware of the dislocation of trade which is resulting from recent events, and if the hon. Member will send me full particulars of any case of difficulty which he has in mind, I will consider what action can he usefully taken.