asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the quantity and value of steam coal imported during each of the years 1937, 1938, 1939, and 1940.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Imports of Coal, Wheat and Tea.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the total quantity and value of (1) wheat, and (2) wheaten flour, imported during each of the years 1937, 1938, 1939, and 1940.
asked the Minister Industry and Commerce if he will state the quantity and value of household coal imported during each of the years 1937, 1938, 1939, and 1940.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the quantity and value of tea imported during each of the years 1937, 1938, 1939, and 1940.
I propose to take the four questions together and give in tabular form the figures asked for in regard to 1937/38 and the first eight months of 1939.
With regard to the imports subsequent to that period it has been decided, on grounds of public policy, not to publish for the present more details than are given in the summary of imports and exports, which has been issued.
|
Description |
Unit of Quantity |
Quantity |
Value (c.i.f.) |
||||
|
1937 |
1938 |
Jany.-Aug., 1939 |
1937 |
1938 |
Jany.-Aug., 1939 |
||
|
£ |
£ |
£ |
|||||
|
Wheat |
cwt. |
6,487,911 |
7,597,152 |
5,628,508 |
3,499,701 |
3,048,058 |
1,557,753 |
|
Wheat Flour |
,, |
117,345 |
101,235 |
68,522 |
82,936 |
59,439 |
28,253 |
|
Tea |
lb. |
25,251,282 |
22,676,447 |
13,847,543 |
1,856,190 |
1,672,203 |
978,353 |
|
Household Coal |
ton |
1,681,801 |
1,570,841 |
1,156,806 |
2,306,664 |
2,208,358 |
1,619,546 |
|
Steam Coal |
,, |
535,655 |
533,879 |
390,571 |
607,451 |
638,503 |
459,766 |
Is the Minister aware that the Minister for Supplies has been asking people to face the facts? Can he say what particular public interest would be injured by allowing people to know the exact amount of imports of, say, coal, flour, and tea during the years 1939 and 1940?
I cannot answer that question.
Does the Minister not realise that, in refusing to give figures of this kind, he is destroying the effect of Parliamentary activity?
The Minister realises that this matter has been very frequently considered and, on grounds of public policy, as I have said and I now repeat, it has been decided to give only a summary of imports and exports. Beyond that I am not going.
Is the Minister aware that, so far as tea is concerned, he can ascertain from the commercial machinery in the city dealing with the import of tea that we got at least as much tea in 1940 as in 1939 or 1938? Does he see the implication of withholding, by an official gesture, from the people information like that, which is commonly known in commercial circles in the city, at a time when the Minister for Supplies is preparing a great scheme to ration tea and when, because of the handling of the tea situation, there is considerable hardship being imposed on a certain number of people? Would it not be better to give the facts and to look the facts in the face, when we might find it was quite unnecessary to have all this hardship with regard to tea borne by certain classes of the community, and we might even be persuaded that it was unnecessary to go to the expense and trouble, which the Minister suggested, with regard to the rationing of tea? I suggest to the Minister that he should consider whether it would not be much more in the public interest to make these facts known, so that, as the Minister for Supplies requests, people might face them and, by their suggestions and knowledge with regard to these things, perhaps help to improve the Government's handling of the situation.
I do not want to turn question time into a debating time, but, if I might answer the question which has been put to me somewhat rhetorically, might I say that I am perfectly certain that a system of rationing tea will not be introduced unless it is necessary, that the public will, at any rate, accept that as a fact and be prepared to face it? I cannot see what useful purpose would be served by discriminating between one class of import and another class of import, or one class of export and another class of export, and making an exception with regard to the publicity to be given them. We have to accept the situation as it is, and we must, at any rate, put some curb upon our zest for statistical data, particularly in the present circumstances. I think, as I have said, that no system of rationing will be introduced unless it is necessary, and I am sure, when it is introduced, the people will be prepared to accept it as necessary, in order, not that one class or another may be deprived of a share of tea, but that everyone may get what can be given in the circumstances.
Is the Minister prepared, even in confidence, to suggest to Deputies what particular public interest is served by withholding the statistics asked for here?