HC Deb 19 June 1924 vol 174 cc2308-11
39. Lieut.-Colonel HOWARD - BURY

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has no SV received the figures with regard to the exports of motor cars from this country for the months of March, April and May?

Mr. SNOWDEN

The answer to this question is in tabular form and would be rather difficult to read to the House. I may say this, for the information of the hon. and gallant Member, that since the announcement was made of the repeal of the McKenna Duties there has been an enormous increase in the export of British manufactured cars. The figures for the month of March show that the export of British-made touring cars was 531; for the month of May, following on the announcement of the repeal of the duties, the number was 1,061.

Lieut.-Colonel HOWARD-BURY

Is it not the case that all these orders for export were given before the repeal of the duties?

Mr. SNOWDEN

The hon. and gallant Member asked me for the figures of exports for these respective months. I have given them. He can draw his own conclusion, and I am quite sure hon. Members in other parts of the House will draw their conclusions.

Lieut.-Colonel LAMBERT WARD

Is it not a fact that in those figures are included all cars exported on what is

Description. Manufacture of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Foreign and Colonial manufacture.
March. April. May March. April. May.
Motor Cars. No. No. No. No. No. No.
Touring Cars (including cabs) 531 707 1,061 194 221 361
Commercial Vehicles (including motor omnibuses, motor fire engines, and motor ambulances). 69 110 135 31 10 43
Chassis for motor cars 136 124 257 12 37 40
40. Lieut. - Colonel HOWARD - BURY

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can give the number of men employed in the piano industry on 1st April, 1st May and 1st June; and whether he can give the figures for the exports of pianos in March, April and May?

Mr. SNOWDEN

I regret that the information asked for in the first part of the question is not available. The only information which the Ministry of Labour can furnish relates to the total number of persons engaged in the manufacture of musical instruments as estimated from the annual exchange of unemployment books in July, 1923.

As regards the second part, the figures are as follow:

known as a "triptyque" for touring purposes; and as many more cars are taken abroad for touring in May than in March, would not that largely account for the increased export of cars in May as compared with March?

Mr. MILLS

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Messrs. Hoffman's, of Chelmsford, who are among the largest manufacturers of motor car parts, have employed 200 additional men within the last fortnight?

Mr. SNOWDEN

I am not aware of that particular incident. There have been brought to my notice a good many cases where firms employed in the manufacture of British motor cars have increased the number of their workpeople, and are working overtime.

The figures asked for are as follow:

Month. 1924. Manufactures of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Foreign and Colonial manufacture.
No. £ No. £
March 375 19,798 12 1,037
April 460 20,104 7 904
May 466 22,016 17 1,236
Lieut.-Colonel HOWARD-BURY

Is it not a fact that there was no unemployment in the piano industry, and that to-day there are 2,000 unemployed in the industry?

Major COLFOX

Is the right hon. Gentleman in possession of any figures similar to those he has in regard to the motor industry, showing that since the McKenna Duties were proposed to be withdrawn there has been an increase of employment, and, if so, is the increase of employment not much more than balanced by a decrease in other industries?