HC Deb 27 November 1928 vol 223 cc195-7
3. Commander BELLAIRS

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the percentage of the total imports of cotton manufactures for the Dominions, India, and chief Colonies of the Empire combined that are of British origin for the latest year available?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER

In view of differences of classification it is not possible to state the percentage of all cotton manufactures imported into Empire countries which represents goods exported from the United Kingdom. Cotton yarns and piece goods, however, constitute about 90 per cent., by value, of the exports of all cotton manufactures from the United Kingdom to all destinations, and during 1927 imports from the United Kingdom represented about 70 per cent., by value, of the aggregate imports of cotton yarns and cotton piece goods into the Dominions, British India, and other British countries overseas.

2. Commander BELLAIRS

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give any figures, in values or volumes, as to the distribution of our cotton trade as between the home market, the rest of the Empire, and foreign countries?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER

The answer consists of a table of figures with introductory notes. Accordingly, my hon, and gallant Friend will perhaps permit me to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer:

It is not possible to give figures of this kind for all cotton manufactures. The following figures therefore relate to cotton yarns and cotton piece goods, which constitute by value about 90 per cent. of the exports of all cotton manufactures from the United Kingdom.

The total output of cotton yarns in the United Kingdom in 1924 amounted to 1,395,200,000 lbs. The domestic exports in 1924 consigned to British countries amounted to 27,900,000 lbs. and to foreign countries 135,200,000 lbs. Thus, apart from any variation in stocks, the quantity of home manufactured cotton yarns left available for home consumption (including export after further stages of manufacture) in 1924 was 1,232,100,000 lbs.

The total output of cotton piece-goods in 1924 was about 6,027,372,000 square yards. The domestic exports in this year consigned to British countries amounted to 2,362,530,000 square yards and to foreign countries 2,081,429,000 square yards. Thus, apart from any variation in stocks, the quantity of cotton piece-goods manufactured in this country left available for home consumption (including exports of apparel and other goods which were made up from piece-goods) in 1924 was 1,583,413,000 square yards. Figures relating to output in later years are not available.

The following table shows the distribution of the quantities of cotton yarns and cotton piece-goods manufactured in the United Kingdom and exported there-from consigned to British and to foreign countries during each of the years 1924 to 1927.

— Consigned to British Countries. Consigned to Foreign Countries. Total Domestic Exports.
Cotton Yarns— 1,000 lbs. 1,000 lbs. 1,000 lbs.
1924 … … … … 27,866 135,190 163,056
1925 … … … … 23,476 166,055 189,531
1926 … … … … 30,487 138,040 168,527
1927 … … … … 33,368 167,097 200,465
Cotton piece-goods— 1,000 sq. yds. 1,000 sq yds. 1,000 sq. yds.
1924 … … … … 2,362,530 2,081,429 4,443,959
1925 … … … … 2,278,289 2,157,529 4,435,618
1926 … … … … 2,273,336 1,561,146 3,834,482
1927 … … … … 2,394,135 1,722,748 4,116,883

Note —Exports consigned to Iraq, which are relatively small, were included under British Countries in the years 1924 to 1926 and under Foreign Countries in 1927,

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