§ MR. CAIRNS (Newcastle-on-Tyne)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, if he will make an investigation to see whether it be possible to compile reliable statistics whereby the Home trade of the country in volume and value can be recorded, as distinguished from exports and imports, with due regard to the privacy of the business of individual firms.
1310 I beg also to ask the President of the Board of Trade, if he will make inquiries to ascertain whether a system can be devised whereby the freight earnings of the British mercantile marine engaged in the oversea trade can be recorded, with due regard to the privacy of the business of individual shipowners.
§ MR. LLOYD-GEORGEThe Board of Trade are fully alive to the importance of both the matters referred to in these Questions, and have already had them under consideration. Any attempt, however, to obtain trustworthy statistics of the kind suggested would involve great difficulties, and would, I fear, be useless without legislation conferring compulsory powers to exact the information. I should welcome any expression of views on the part of the commercial and shipping community as to the acceptability of legislation providing for a periodical census of industry and shipping, for which, from a purely statistical point of view, there is no doubt a good deal to be said.