Imports And Exports
17.
asked the President, of the Board of Trade what was the value of the imports and exports of Mesopotamia for the years 1920 and 1921, exclusive of military and railway goods; and what was the proportion of that trade handled by British subjects, British banking, shipping. and insurance companies?
The answer contains a number of figures, and, with my hon. Friend's permission, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
Following is the answer:
The aggregate values of the imports into and exports front Iraq, exclusive of stores imported by the military authorities or the Government., were as follows:
| 1920. | 1921. | |
| Rupees. | Rupees. | |
| Imports | 232,750,215 | 205,639,235 |
| Exports | 95,347,768 | 98,347,912 |
In addition, bullion and specie to the value of 8,459,389 rupees in 1920 and 74,334,555 rupees in 1921 were exported.
I am unable to furnish information regarding the classes or nationalities of the agents engaged in conducting this trade.
Wool (Government Stocks)
26.
asked the President of the Board of Trade what quan- tity of wool, if any, is being held under the control of the Government; and is it proposed to realise such stocks at once or to hold indefinitely?
27.
asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the, quantity of wool belonging to His Majesty's (government still in the hands of the British-Australian Wool Realisation Association or its successor, and what is the estimated value of such wool; is it the intention of His Majesty's Government to realise at market prices; or do they intend to hold it with a view of realising at higher prices?
The total quantity of wool now belonging to His Majesty's Government amounts to approximately 520,000 bales, the present market value of which is estimated at £10,500,000. It is proposed to continue the present policy of realising the wool systematically in regular monthly instalments, finishing in February, 1924.
Wa R Charges (Validity) Bill
28.
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will arrange to have a memorandum published setting forth particulars regarding the claims against the Government to which the War Charges (Validity) Bill is intended to apply?
Yes, Sir, I shall be glad to have a memorandum prepared and published.
Enemy Action Claims (Fishingi Industry)
30.
asked the President of the Board of Trade when there is any likelihood of compensation being received by those fishermen whose boats where sunk by enemy action during the great War; and is he aware that great distress prevails at Brixham, which is dependent on the fishing industry, and that claims have been sent in to the Reparation Department without even an acknowledgment being received by the senders?
The answer is rather long, and, with my hon. and gallant Friend's permission, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
Following is the answer:
Until recently, the Royal Commission on Compensation for Suffering and Damage by Enemy Action have been engaged in consideration of claims iii respect of loss of life, injury to health, maltreatment during internment, and loss of personal effects at sea, in respect of which their first Report has recently been published. The Commission are now proceeding with the consideration of claims in respect of loss of, or damage to, property. including claims in respect of fishing boats. The property claims are very numerous and complex, and their investigation must take some further time. It will not be possible to make any payments of compensation in respect of property until the Commission have presented their report upon them. I understand that some distress exists at Brixham. Since the publication of the first Report of the Commission, the Reparation Claims Department. has been receiving as many as 1,000 letters a day from claimants, and the staff of that Department have found it impossible to deal promptly with all of them.