§ 27. Mr. CROFTasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state what was the proportion per cent. of imports into British India in 1885 and in 1912 from the United Kingdom, the rest of the Empire, and from all foreign countries, respectively; and what were the percent- 1612 age figures of exports from India in the same years?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Buxton)In the year ended 31st March, 1886, out of the total imports of merchandise by sea, 82 per cent. were derived from the United Kingdom, 10 per cent. from other parts of the British Empire and 8 per cent. from foreign countries; in the year ended 31st March, 1912, the proportions were 64 per cent. from the United Kingdom, 6 per cent. from other parts of the Empire, and 30 per cent. from foreign countries. Of the exports of merchandise by sea in 1886, 41 per cent. were sent to the United Kingdom, 22 per cent. to other parts of the Empire, and 37 per cent., to foreign countries; whilst in the latter year the proportions were 26 per cent. to the United Kingdom, 16 per cent. to other parts of the Empire, and 58 per cent. to foreign countries. There was a slight difference of system as between the two years in the method of recording the countries from which imports were derived and to which exports were sent, but, so far as can be judged, this difference does not very materially affect the comparability of the figures I have given.
§ Mr. CROFTHas the right hon. Gentleman's attention been called to the debate in India dealing with this question? And do the Government propose to do anything more to meet the apparent wishes of the people in order to make the provision such as will prevent further decrease in British trade in British India?
§ Mr. BUXTONThat hardly arises out of this answer.