Mr. De la Bèreasked the President of the Board of Trade, whether his attention has been directed to the recent assurances given by Mr. F. D'Arcy Cooper, the Chairman of the Export Council of the Board of Trade, to the biscuit exporters of all raw material, sugar and flour, &c., which they might want for their exports; and whether, in view of the fact that these ingredients might be vitally needed at home, he will enforce some limiitation of exports as regards food from this country during the period of hostilities.
§ Mr. JohnstoneI am aware of the assurances referred to. The quantity of staple foodstuffs such as sugar and flour, required for our valuable export trade in manufactured foods such as biscuits is so small in relation to the supplies and the consumption in this country that I am happy to say that my noble Friend the Minister of Food has been able to agree to facilitate the export trade in these products.