§ MR. PIKE PEASE (Darlington)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he can state what are the principal differences in the character of the articles included under the term of manufactures in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and the United States, respectively; to what extent these differences vitiate the comparison of the exports of manufactures from those countries; and what would be the value of the exports of manufactures from the three foreign countries mentioned in a recent year if the classification were uniform, and the same as that of the United Kingdom.
§ MR. LLOYD-GEORGEIn both the French and German trade statistics certain articles were excluded from the category of manufactures which are classed as such in this country, the principal of these articles being metals and certain semi-manufactured metal goods, combed and carded wool, and certain building materials; whilst in France thrown silk and oilcake are also excluded, and in Germany crude chemicals. On the other hand, oils are classed in this country as raw materials, and in Germany as manufactures. In the United States, 1411 tobacco, which is grouped with articles of food and drink in this country, and timber and lumber, mineral oils and coke, which are classed as raw materials in this country, are classed as manufactured articles. Making allowance for these and other minor differences, it appears that if the classification adopted in this country were adopted in the countries named, the exports in 1905 (the last year for which the figures are available) of manufactures from France would have been, roughly, £126,000,000 sterling instead of £110,000,000 sterling; from, Germany £214,000,000 sterling, instead of £191,000,000 sterling; and from the United States £101,000,000 sterling, instead of £127,000,000 sterling. The exports of manufactures from the United Kingdom in 1905 were £273,000,000.