§ MR. TOMKINSON (Cheshire, Crewe)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of the total amount of slates used in this country has been imported from abroad in each of the years 1902 to 1907, inclusive.
§ MR. CHURCHILLIf the annual consumption of slates in the United Kingdom be taken as equivalent to the production of each year with the imparts added and the exports deducted, it appears that the proportion of imported slates to the total consumption so ascertained, was about 13 per cent. in 1902, 19 per cent. in 1903, 14 per cent. in 1904, 12 per cent. in 1905, and 8 per cent. in both 1906 and 1907. In making this calculation, account has been taken of the imports and exports of roofing sates only, no separate information being available with regard to any imports or exports of slate in other forms.
§ MR. TOMKINSONasked if the marked increase in imports was not in the period of the Penrhyn strike.
§ MR. CROOKS (Woolwich)Lock-out.
§ MR. CHURCHILLThat probably in the case.
§ MR. BONAR LAWWill the right hon. Gentleman apply the principle he has adopted in the case of slates to other classes of goods?
§ MR. CHURCHILLThat is rather a complicated question, which I should like to study.
§ MR. ELLIS DAVIESWhat proportion of the slates was exported to British Colonies?
§ MR. CHURCHILLasked for notice.