§ *MR. REMNANTI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that in the twelve months ending 30th June, 1905, the combined exports of wheat from Canada and the United States to the United Kingdom amounted to 15,187,000 bushels, whereas the combined imports into the United Kingdom in
§ sion had been put into operation it would have seriously handicapped Welsh slates in competition with Austrian. As the result of representations made to the German Government, the regulation objected to has been withdrawn, and practically the whole of the roofing slates exported are now admitted at the lower rate. Full particulars are given in the Board of Trade Journal for 27th December, 1906. The rate of duty on roofing slates under the old German tariff was fifty pfennigs.
§ Statement of the registered exports of slates of British and Irish manufacture from the United Kingdom and from Welsh Ports to Germany, during the years 1902–1906 inclusive, showing the quantity and value—
§ the same period from these two countries amounted to 17,007,000 bushels; and whether he can explain the discrepancy of 10 to 12 per cent. in these figures.
§ MR. LLOYD-GEORGEThe figures stated by the hon. Member for the export of wheat to the United Kingdom from the United States and Canada combined are not correct. They should have been 500,000 bushels greater. The hon. Member has ignored the exports of United States wheat, via Canada, and of Canadian wheat via United States, and also the difference between the American and the British bushel. The remaining discrepancy between the correct figures and those of the recorded imports into the United Kingdom from Canada and the United States combined is probably due 35 mainly to the diversion of floating cargoes.