HC Deb 08 December 1925 vol 189 cc226-7
15. Mr. HARMSWORTH

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in computing the national trade balance for the year, regard is had to the volmue of invisible imports represented by the interest on capital invested in this country by Americans and other foreigners; at what figure he estimates this figure for the present year; and what were the comparative figures for 1924 and 1913?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER

In the article regarding the Balance of Trade in 1924, printed in the " Board of Trade Journal " for 29th January, 1925, under the heading " Net Income from Overseas Investments," the answer to my hon. Friend's question is given, namely: Under this heading is included the income from investments in Empire and foreign countries remitted to the United Kingdom, less the income remitted overseas on account of the investments of other countries in the United Kingdom. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of this article, which contains a full explanation of the estimates on this subject made in my Department.