§ 12. Sir H. CROFTasked the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of exports of manufactures to Europe during the first three months of 1926; what was the value of the imports of manufactures from Europe in the same period; and what were the corresponding figures for 1913?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a reprint of an article from the Board of Trade Journal giving the latest available figures of our imports and exports to and from Europe and elsewhere. These figures relate to the calendar year 1925, and are not divided so as to show separately manufactured and other commodities. Nevertheless, they give some general idea of the trade between this country and the Continent. Similar figures are published in the Board of Trade Journal at quarterly intervals. The labour involved in extracting particulars of our trade in manufactured and other goods with individual countries is such that it is only possible to compile them in respect of complete calendar years. The figures relating to 1925 will be included in the first volume of the Annual Statement of Trade for that year, which will be published towards the end of this year.
§ Sir H. CROFTIs it not a fact that the exports of manufactures to this country now equal or are greater than the exports of manufactures from this country to Europe, and is this not a very serious fact, and, if so, will the right hon. Gentleman call the attention of the Prime Minister to it?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERIf my hon. and gallant Friend will put down a specific question as to the aggregate exports from Europe and imports to Europe, I think I might be able to answer it, but the difficulty is in dealing with specific countries. As regards the ratio of exports and imports of manufactured articles, those are, I think, published regularly in the returns of the Board a Trade.