asked the Taoiseach the total value of agricultural and horticultural produce imported since 1st March, 1957, and the country of origin.

Imports are brought to account by reference to the commodity descriptions specified in the Official Import List and the classification used does not rigorously distinguish agricultural and horticultural produce from other imports. I therefore propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to circulate in the Official Report a statement showing, by principal countries of origin, the value of imports in each of the years 1957, 1958, 1959, and 1960, of the aggregate of the following groups of commodities or individual commodities selected from the Official Import List as being most relevant to the inquiry: Live Animals (permanently and temporarily imported); Foodstuffs of Animal origin (excluding Fish and Fish preparations); Cereals and Feeding stuffs; Fruit, Nuts and Vegetables; Sugar and sugar preparations; Coffee, Tea, Cocoa, Spices, and manufactures; Tobacco, unmanufactured; Textile fibres and waste; Hides, Skins, Fur skins and Leather; Natural Rubber and similar natural gums; Oil Seeds, nuts and kernels; Oleo oil; Tallow; Vegetable Oils (excluding essential but including refined); Beeswax; Crude materials (Animal and Vegetable including Seeds for sowing).

Because of the very large number of individual commodities involved the only practicable way of preparing the details required was by calendar year.

Following is the statement:—

VALUE of imports of agricultural and horticultural produce in each of the year 1957, 1958, 1959 and 1960.

*Included with British West Africa.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary state if his list includes vegetables as a heading?

Yes: Fruit, Nuts and Vegetables.