HC Deb 01 May 1922 vol 153 cc954-5
11. Mr. HOGGE

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can give the total value of imports of foreign manufactured goods for the months of January, February and March of 1914, 1920, 1921 and 1922; and what proportion of the imports came from Germany?

Mr. BALDWIN

The answer can be given most conveniently in the form of a table, which, with the permission of the House, I will have printed in the OFFICIAL EEPORT.

Following is the table:

quantities which have been refused admission, and of the particular exporting countries in each case?

Mr. BALDWIN

I will have a statement printed in the OFFICIAL BEPORT.

The following is the statement:

Particulars of applications for licences which were granted or refused during the year 1921, and the months of January and February, 1922.

Granted. Refused.
From— lbs. lbs.
Switzerland … 2,138,171 610,755
Germany … 796,215 991,894
Other sources … 216,455 268,568
Total … 3,150,841 1,871,217
24. Mr. WADDINGTON

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any increases have recently been made in the price of German dyes for qualities not produced in this country; whether for German dyes of qualities which can be efficiently produced in this country the prices are being reduced; and whether he has any information that certain leading textile dye users in this country recently visited Germany and recommended German dye makers to artificially reduce the price in this country of German dyes which compete with similar British dyes?

Mr. BALDWIN

I understand that the German dyestuff manufacturers have recently raised their prices generally, but that when dyestuffs equivalent to their products are put on the market by British manufacturers it is their practice to reduce their prices in an attempt to undercut the British producers. As regards the last part of the question I have no doubt that some British consumers have sought to obtain specially low quotations from Germany.

Major ENTWISTLE

Is it not the fact that where licences are granted for dyes they are given to Swiss dyes, which are of higher price than those of other countries?

Mr. BALDWIN

I should like to have notice of that question.