HC Deb 20 May 1909 vol 5 cc578-9
Mr. CHIOZZA MONEY

asked the President of the Board of Trade, with reference to the monthly White Paper on Foreign Trade and Commerce, if he will see in future that the figures relating to the imports and exports of such countries as Germany, where preliminary figures are issued based upon purely nominal values, are more clearly stated to be preliminary nominal figures, and therefore not comparable with British trade figures based on declared real values?

Mr. CHURCHILL

The facts to which my hon. Friend calls attention are clearly stated in the Introductory Note which appears on page 4 of the White Paper in question. I will, however, consider whether greater prominence can conveniently be given to the explanation of the difference between the systems adopted in the United Kingdom and in certain other countries (including Germany) in the compilation of preliminary figures relating to foreign trade.

Mr. CHIOZZA MONEY

May I ask my right hon. Friend to have the explanation printed on page 5 instead of page 4, in order that the newspapers may not be led to think that the figures given on page 5 are comparative?

Mr. JOYNSON-HICKS

Arising out of a discrepancy which appears between the Official Report of the Debates and the Paper circulated daily with the Votes and Proceedings, I would wish to ask a question. I find that in the Division which occurred on the Convents Bill three Members are reported in the Official Report of the Debates as voting aye, namely, Mr. Glendinning. Mr. Archibald Grove and Mr. R. P. Houston; and I find that none of these names appear on the official Paper. As it is eminently necessary and desirable that we should know which is really the official record, for the purpose of reference, I should be glad if you would give us some indication as to which we are to regard as the official of our Divisions in this House?

Mr. SPEAKER

There is no doubt whatever that the official record is the record circulated with the Votes and Proceedings in the morning. I may say that I have inquired into the discrepancy between the two and that I have seen the two sheets and compared them. In one sheet the names of the three Gentlemen appear ticked off, and in the other they do not appear ticked off, and I have been at a loss to discover how the discrepancy has arisen.