HC Deb 05 February 1929 vol 224 cc1558-60
2. Mr. HANNON

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can estimate the value of safeguarded manufactured goods and non-safeguarded manufactured goods imported into this country and retained for domestic consumption for the calendar years 1925 and 1928, respectively; and whether he can state the value of exports of safeguarded manufactured goods and exports of non-safeguarded manufactured goods for the same two years?

12. Mr. CRAWFORD

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the values of the imports, exports, and re-exports of the various classes of manufactured goods which are now subject on import to safeguarding or other duties during each of the years 1924 to 1928, inclusive?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER

A statement is being prepared, and I will have it circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT as soon as it is ready.

Mr. HANNON

For the information of the House may I ask whether the effect of the statement will not be to prove that the policy of His Majesty's Ministers, in reference to safeguarding, has been a complete success?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER

I think it would be improper for me to anticipate a Return which I haw not yet had prepared. If the hon. Gentleman founded his statement upon the Return of 1927, the answer would be in the affirmative.

Mr. W. THORNE

Would it not be very much better in the Return to give the figures in cwts. and lbs. weight instead of in pounds, shillings and pence, so that we could get a correct estimate?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER; I am not sure. Speaking' from memory, I think that the very large Return which was printed before did deal, as far as possible, with- both volume and value

In any case, I would like notice of the hon. Member's specific question.

Mr. THORNE

I put the question account of the values going up and down. It seems to me that it would be very much better to give the figures as I have suggested.

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER

I quite agree. I have always said that it is very important to take into account the volume figures, Where it is possible, but of course there is a certain number of Returns Which include the official figures, and these are not stated in volume at all, and in that case' the only way in Which one can arrive at a comparative statement is to take the general trend of prices over a period.

Mr. LEE

Will the Return's show the estimated or the actual value?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER

All trade Returns are founded upon the actual value.

10. Sir JOHN POWER

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he would consider the possibility of supplementing the quarterly estimates of the volume of British trade in terms of the average prices of 1924 by means of estimates, showing separately the volume of exports and retained imports of manufactures which are safeguarded and non-safeguarded, respectively, in eluding in the former category goods subject to the McKenna Duties; the Silk Duties, as well as those subject to Safeguarding Duties?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER

I have carefully considered the matter, and I regret that the information available is not sufficient to permit of detailed estimates being made as my hon. Friend suggests.