§ 52. Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimate for the latest year available of the number of lbs. weight of silk imported into this country; what is the similar figure for the import of artificial silk and what is the estimate of the number of lbs. weight of artificial silk manufactured in this country annually?
Sir P. CUN LIFFE- LISTERI have been asked to reply. The answer contains a number of figures, and, with the permission of the hon. Member, I will have it circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT
§ Following is the answer:
§ The quantities and values of silk, raw or partly manufactured, and of artificial silk, registered as imported into Great Britain and Northern Ireland during 1924, were as follow:
| — | — | Value. |
| Natural silk: | lbs. | £ |
| Raw | 808,503 | 1,174,300 |
| Thrown | 28,765 | 48,135 |
| Knubs and waste | 4,088,000 | 628,534 |
| Noils | 344,848 | 18,763 |
| Yarn spun | 684,815 | 445,672 |
| Artificial silk: | ||
| Yarn threads and filaments. | 10,249,348 | 3,271,295 |
| Waste | 276,715 | 19,061 |
§ The weight of the tissues and other manufactures of silk or of artificial silk imported is not recorded. The values of these manufactures (not including wearing apparel)were:
| £ | |
| Goods of silk or of silk mixed with other materials | 24,713,509 |
| Goods of artificial silk | 2,24,807 |
§ As regards the production in this country of artificial silk, I have noted in the "Manchester Guardian Commercial," of 5th March last, an estimate of production during 1924 of 10,885 metric tons, or about. 24,000,000 lbs.