§ Commander BELLAIRSasked the President of the Board of Trade if he can give the value of imported foodstuffs, as distinct from drink and tobacco, in 1925 and for the first quarter of 1926 as compared with 1913 in declared values and in values estimated at the average values of 1913; and whether the imports of foodstuffs into Ireland in 1913 were so insignificant as not to vitiate the comparison?
§ Mr. A, M. SAMUEL:The declared values of the imports of foodstuffs not liable to duty on importation into this country, and their estimated values at the prices prevailing in 1913, are shown in the following statement for the periods there specified. The figures cover a few articles of drink, of comparatively small importance in the import trade, but exclude, among dutiable items, both dutiable drinks and tea, coffee, etc.; they are also exclusive of tobacco. Figures covering articles of food alone, but including all articles of food whether dutiable or not, would take some time to prepare. As appears from the table, the imports into the Irish Free State from countries outside the British Isles were smaller in amount than the imports from the Irish Free State into Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the recent periods dealt with. There is no sufficient record of their amount in 1913: