§ 5. Mr. A. M. SAMUELasked to what approximate extent it may be roughly assumed that the value of our invisible exports will reduce the excess of value of our imports over our exports for the eleven months ending 30th November, 1919; and, similarly, for the whole year 1919?
§ Sir A. GEDDESIt is roughly estimated that the excess value of imports over exports of merchandise during the period of eleven months ended 30th November is offset to the extent of about three-fourths by the earnings of British shipping interest on British investment abroad, banking, insurance, and other commissions, the value of bunker coal, 881 etc. Precise figures are, in the nature of the case, not ascertainable, but I anticipate that the figure of three-fourths will not be far wrong on the working of the whole year.
§ Mr. SAMUELDoes that mean, roughly, that we shall have undisclosed invisible exports to the amount of over £450,000,000 out of a possible £600,000,000 excess of imports?
§ Sir A. GEDDESThese figures are very rough. Somewhere about that.
13. Mr. A. T. DAVIESasked the President of the Board of Trade whether His Majesty's Government will consider the excision of the plenary powers to prevent dumping given to the Trade Regulation Committee under the Imports and Exports Bill; whether it is proposed to set up a representative Court of Appeal against decisions of the Trade Regulation Committee; and whether he will be prepared to extend the limit of members of the Committee, in order that they may include members of the. chambers of commerce, employers, and trade unions?
§ Sir A. GEDDESThe points raised by the hon. Member could, I think, be most conveniently considered when the Bill is in Committee.
§ 15 and 17. Mr. HOUSTONasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he can state in tonnage (weight and cubic measurement) the total amount of imports into this country during the year 1913 and the total amount of exports in tonnage
| (1) The approximate (net) weight of the goods Imported and Exported, calculated from the information supplied to the Customs as to quantities and values, was as follows:— | |||||||
| — | Total imports. | Exports of British produce and manufactures. | |||||
| Coal, coke and manufactured fuel. | Other goods. | ||||||
| Tons. | Tons. | Tons. | |||||
| Calendar Year 1913 | … | … | … | … | 54,500,000 | 76,687,000 | 14,694,000 |
| Twelve months ended October, 1919 | … | … | 37,950,000 | 36,967,000 | 6,812,000 | ||
| Month of October, 1919 | … | … | … | … | 4,130,000 | 3,020,000 | 701,000 |
| (2) The particulars desired by the hon. Member are the following:— | |||||||
| — | Imports. | Exports of United Kingdom produce and manufactures. | Exports of Foreign and Colonial merchandise. | ||||
| £ | £ | £ | |||||
| Calendar year 1913 | … | … | … | … | 768,734,739 | 525,245,289 | 109,575,037 |
| Twelve months ended November, 1919 | … | 1,578,946,148 | 745,797,286 | 141,274,203 | |||
| Month of November, 1919 | … | … | … | 143,564,907 | 87,110,007 | 20,266,933 |
§ (weight and cubic measurement) during the same period; whether he can state the total amount of imports in tonnage (weight and cubic measurement) during the last twelve months for which he has particulars, and up to what date, also the total amount of exports in tonnage (weight and cubic measurement) during the same period; whether he can give the total amount of imports in tonnage (weight and cubic measurement) during the last month for which he has particulars and the month in question, and the total amount of exports in tonnage (weight and cubic measurement) during the same period?
§ (2) whether he can state in values the total amount of imports into this country during the year 1913, and the total amount of exports during the same period; whether he can state in values the total amount of imports into this country during the last twelve months for which he has particulars and up to what date; also the total amount of exports in values during the same period; and whether he can give the total amount in values of the imports into this country during the last month for which he has particulars, and the month in question, and the total amount in values of exports during the same period?
§ Sir A. GEDDESInformation as to the cubic measurement of imports and exports is not available. I will have the other information asked for in these questions circulated as Statistical Tables in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ The following are the tables referred to:
883§ Mr. HOUSTONIn view of the statistics published to-day and the serious discrepancy between imports and exports, and the adverse effect which this has upon exchange and the prices of food in this country, will the right hon. Gentleman arrange that articles of luxury and nonessentials either should be prohibited from being imported or restricted?
§ Sir A. GEDDESThat would raise very difficult controversial questions. At present the visible exports amount to about three-fourths of the difference between the exports and the imports, and the exports are moving in the right direction, and so now are the imports. The quantities of luxuries imported are very small.