4. Captain CROOKSHANKasked the President of the Board of Trade the figures of the amount of chewing gum imported into this country for the last 12 months as well as the amount produced at home; and how the figures compare with those for the preceding year?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe answer contains a table of figures, with notes; and my hon. and gallant Friend will perhaps permit me to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs it proposed to safeguard this important commodity?
§ Mr. W. THORNEWhat about "stickjaw"?
§ Following is the answer:
§ No figures are available regarding the imports of chewing gum into, or its production in, this country. The following statement, however, shows the figures 3 in the trade returns of the United States and Canada, respectively, relating to the exports of chewing gum from those countries to the United Kingdom in the latest periods for which the information is available.
| Exports of Chewing Gum to the United Kingdom. | |||
| (a) From the United States. | |||
| 1925. | 1926. | ||
| Quantity. | Value. | Quantity. | Value. |
| Lbs. | £ | Lbs | £ |
| 1,688,629 | 133,621 | 2,322,576 | 177,958 |
| (b)From Canada.* | ||
| Years ending 31st March. | Six months ending 30th September, 1928. | |
| 1926–7. | 1927–8. | |
| £ | £ | £ |
| 51,442 | 59,735 | 12,979 |
| * Recorded by value only. |
§ What part, if any, of these imports is re-exported to other countries cannot be determined from the available records. It may be added that the exports of chicle gum, the principle constituent of chewing gum, from the countries where it is produced or handled, to this country, so far as they are recorded, are unimportant.