HC Deb 21 February 1921 vol 138 cc517-9
10. Sir F. HALL

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of bicycles of German manufacture imported into Great Britain during 1920; the approximate original cost of the machine under the head of labour; and the cost of labour, for the same article, in the case of a machine manufactured in this country?

Sir P. LLOYD-GREAME

The number of cycles (other than motor cycles) registered during the year 1920 as imported into the United Kingdom, consigned from Germany, was 1,627. The value of these, consignments was £7,081. I regret that I am unable to give figures as to labour costs.

Sir F. HALL

Docs my hon. and gallant Friend recognise that, under the present rate of exchange, these bicycles can be imported into this country at about one-fourth of the cost at which they can be manufactured here, and do the Government recognise the very detrimental effects that that is bound to have on British commerce?

Sir P. LLOYD-GREAME

I am not sure whether my hon. and gallant Friend is correct in saying that the figure is one-fourth. I have not detailed figures on that point, but I think there is no doubt whatever that they can be imported into this country at considerably less than the price at which they can be manufactured here.

Sir F. HALL

Is the Government taking immediate steps, as promised in the last Session, to bring in a Bill with regard to this exchange system?

Sir P. LLOYD-GREAME

My hon. and gallant Friend knows the statement which has been made by the Prime Minister in this House, and the statement contained in the King's Speech.

13. Captain TERRELL

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any very noticeable increases have occurred in the importation of German goods into this country in the last three months; if so, in what direction; and whether, in that case, such importation has had the effect of depressing the labour market here?

Sir P. LLOYD-GREAME

The aggregate value of imports of all articles consigned from Germany to this country in the third quarter of 1920 was £8,743,000, and in the fourth quarter of 1920, £10,494,000. I will have a statement covering the more important increases published in the OFFICIAL REPORT. Imports from Germany have doubtless contributed to some extent to the depression of the labour market in this country.

The following is the statement referred to:

IMPORTS into the United Kingdom of certain articles consigned from Germany, registered
during the periods specified.
Article and Unit of Quantity. Quarter ended 30th September, 1920. Quarter ended 31st December, 1920.
Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value.
£ £
Apples, raw cwts 6,286 14,339 23,893 43,441
Hops cwts 456 6,998 4,120 63,251
Sugar, unrefined cwts 3,670 11,927 144,146 240,432
Flax tons 8 2,440 132 32,795
Seeds (agricultural and horticultural) other than o[...]l seeds cwts. 1,836 9,359 5,951 35,117
Earthenware—Jet, Rockingham, etc. cwts 8,413 42,114 13,368 63,013
Glassware, illuminating cwts 15,468 76,849 19,651 105,520
Glass bottles cwts 87,616 126,873 113,308 164,430
Steel bars, rods, angles, shapes and sections tons. 162 6,866 1,276 43,785
Iron or steel tubes, pipes and fittings tons 599 29,546 1,066 47,012
Enamelled hollow-ware, domestic tons 604 67,777 1,071 98,387
Copper in bars, blocks, etc., electrolytic tons 203 22,023 1,416 143,386
Lead, pig tons 1,762 66,873 3,884 136,251
Zinc, crude tons 1,644 67,356 7,671 314,612
Machinery for printing, bookbinding, etc. tons 125 24,556 206 33,615
Cotton manufactures—Smallwares … — 41,241 — 58,264
Woollen and worsted tissues cwts. 534 40,755 891 56,624
Jute piece goods cwts 4,439 27,788 6,727 33,698
Cotton gloves doz. prs. 22,024 37,345 37,168 50,055
Potassium nitrate cwts. 241 702 16,128 38,340
Silver nitrate lbs. 13,934 26,999 29,475 52,876
Dyes and dyestuffs obtained from coal tar cwts. 23,732 1,010,546 59,366 3,041,798
Leather, dressed, japanned, enamelled, etc. cwts 104 17,727 164 27,461
Motor car parts and accessories (except chassis) … — 48,793 — 74,180
Toys and games not of rubber or leather … — 304,557 — 485,337

Captain TERRELL

Is my hon. and gallant Friend aware that certain German goods are being imported into this country to-day marked with the words, "Made in Birmingham"?

Sir P. LLOYD-GREAME

No, Sir; I am not aware of that. I shall be very glad if my hon. and gallant Friend will send me particulars. That appears to me to be clearly an infringement of the existing Merchandise Marks Regulations, and I shall be glad to have information about it.

Sir F. HALL

Is the Merchandise Marks Act still in operation, or has it, like Rip Van Winkle, gone to sleep?

Sir P. LLOYD-GREAME

The Act is very much in operation, and I hope that people who have knowledge of infringements of it will not go to sleep, but will bring it to the proper quarter.