§ 45. Colonel BURNasked the Prime Minister, with reference to his statement at Leven that the census of production proved that out of a total production of commodities valued at £706,000,000 the exports amounted to only £176,000,000, whether his attention has been drawn to 1183 the fact that the Annual Trade Returns for 1907 show that the exports of domestic produce were valued at £426,000,000, of which more than £341,000,000 were classed as manufactures; and whether he will explain the discrepancy between these two statements?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI was referring to the completely manufactured products of industry—goods in their final stage. The figures which I gave in my speech—i.e., a total of 716 millions—not, as suggested, 706 millions—out of which 176 millions were exported, will be found on page 26 of the final Report of the Census of Production of the United Kingdom, 1907 [Cd. 6320], and I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to that document for the calculations on which these figures are based.
§ Colonel BURNIs it a correct inference from the figures in question that less than one-half of the manufactured exports represent British labour?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat is very disputable.