HC Deb 18 June 1928 vol 218 cc1410-1
25. Mr. JOHNSTON

asked the Minister of Health whether he proposes to publish the Report of the inquiry under the Profiteering Act held in 1926 on the light castings industry?

Sir K WOOD

I presume that the hon. Member has in mind the inquiries instituted in 1926 by the Inter-Departmental Committee appointed to survey the prices of building materials. The result of the inquiries was included in the fifth interim report of the Committee published in 1926 (Cmd. 2719).

28. Mr. JOHNSTON

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give any figures for recent years showing the imports, exports, and re-exports of light castings giving the values and quantities to and from the different countries trading in these goods with Great Britain?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Herbert Williams)

The answer has been prepared in tabular form, and, with the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer:

The group heading "Iron and Steel and Manufactures thereof" in the Official Trade Returns contains no specific sub-heading "Light Castings." The following table, however, gives the quantities and declared values of certain descriptions of the iron and steel manufactures enumerated in the Returns, and further particulars, for the years 1922 to 1926, will be found in Vols. II and III of the "Annual Statement of Trade of the United Kingdom, 1926":—

Iron and Steel Manufactures. Quantities. Declared Values.
1924. 1925. 1926. 1927. 1924. 1925. 1926. 1927.
Tubes, Pipes and Fittings, Cast (up to 6 inches in diameter): Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. £ £ £ £
Total Imports … … 20,023 33,246 31,733 47,606 293,612 423,623 412,194 583,207
Exports … … 50,992 60.958 51,037 66,178 858,668 966,354 793,148 929,305
Re-exports … … 974 252 249 563 22,190 5,335 5,960 12,679
Stoves, Grates and Ranges for domestic cooking and heating:
Total Imports … … 298 682 623 972 23,983 49,181 36,439 54,551
Exports … … 8,674 10,331 11,587 10,083 413,680 489,970 521,559 486,067
Re-exports … … 8 13 17 18 1,257 1,199 1,172 1,820
Baths (porcelain enamelled or other finish):
Total Imports … … 4,238 6,631 7,702 10,905 132,879 216,349 240,117 307,208
Exports … … 3,104 3,575 3,128 2,597 136,921 156,199 137,483 109,659
Re-exports … … — 5 9 10 125 231 362 435
Sanitary Cast-iron Goods, enamelled or not (such as Sinks, Basins, Lavatories, Closets, &c.) and Sanitary Cisterns (flushing tanks):
Total Imports … … 68 193 286 834 4,627 7,520 7,013 22,261
Exports … … 3,713 4,691 4,391 4,592 143,998 183,698 173,131 180,263
Re-exports … … — 4 — 6 39 326 87 459
Cooking and Washing Boilers:
Total Imports … … 113 61 36 83 3,787 1,735 937 2,336
Exports … … 513 383 380 464 26,632 21,607 22,405 25,966
Re-exports … … — — — 1 — — — 30

NOTE.—The figures for 1927 are provisional.