§ 35. Mr. COCKSasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give the figures of British exports and re-exported to Russia for the years 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927 and 1928?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMWith my hon. Friend's permission I will circulate the figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT as the more convenient course.
§ Mr. COCKSWill my right hon. Friend say whether there is a great reduction of these exports after the year 1926–27, and can he give any reason for it?
§ Mr. GRAHAMThere certainly was a reduction following 1925–26, but it would be impossible for me to give reasons in reply to a supplementary question.
§ Sir AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINWould it be possible for the right hon. Gentleman to give us any figures as to the trade with Russia which appear in our export figures as trade with Germany—going to Hamburg and thence to Russia?
§ Mr. GRAHAMI am not sure whether from the statistics as they stand that is possible, and, obviously, the right hon. Gentleman would not expect me to reply without notice, but I shall certainly make inquiries.
§ Sir WILLIAM MITCHELL-THOMSONHas the right hon. Gentleman any figures about United States exports to Russia?
§ Mr. GRAHAMI have no doubt that from the United States official returns, some of which I have seen, the figures could be got, but I am not aware that that is part of my duty.
§ Following are the figures:
§ The following table shows the total declared values of merchandise exported 1190 and re-exported from Great Britain and Northern Ireland, consigned to the Soviet Union (Russia) during each of the years 1923 to 1928.
| Year. | Exports consigned to the Soviet Union (Russia). | ||
| Produce and Manufactures of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. | Imported Merchandise. | ||
| £'000. | £'000. | ||
| 1923 | … | 2,492 | 1,989 |
| 1924 | … | 3,860 | 7,212 |
| 1925 | … | 6,240 | 13,017 |
| 1926 | … | 5,858 | 8,543 |
| 1927 | … | 4,509 | 6,781 |
| 1928 | … | 2,716 | 2,085 |
§ NOTE.—From 1st April, 1923, the figures given above relate to the trade of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; prior to that date they relate to the trade of the British Isles as a whole.