§ 29. Mr. HARRISasked the President of the Board of Trade the number of complete clocks and watches, respectively, shown to have been manufactured in the United Kingdom during the year covered by the latest census of production; and the average numbers and values of complete clocks and complete watches, respectively, imported per annum calculated over the five years ending December, 1929?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMAs the answer is long and includes a number of figures, 1706 I will, with the hon. Member's per mission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. HARRISIs there not a very great decline in quantities?
§ Mr. GRAHAMIn this case, perhaps the hon. Member will wait till he sees the long reply that I have prepared.
§ Following is the answer:
§ The particulars furnished in connection with the most recent Census of Production, relating to the year 1924, included the following for clocks and watches made in the United Kingdom:—
- Complete clocks, 118,000 (value, £210,000).
- Complete watches, 5,300 (value £66,000).
§ In the case of watches, the number shown includes an estimate in respect of a small part of the output, the makers of which stated that they were unable to furnish this information.
§ Time-booking clocks, electrically-controlled clocks, chronometers and complete watch movements were also made, the total number amounting to about 5,500, but separate particulars cannot be furnished, as it would involve the disclosure of the business of individual firms.
§ In addition to the complete clocks, the information secured showed an output of 8,600 complete clock movements, valued at £20,000, some of which may have been purchased by clock makers and be duplicated in the figures relating to complete clocks. Duplication may, similarly, arise in respect of the complete watch movements referred to in the preceding paragraph.
§ No information is available as to the extent to which imported movements or parts were used in the manufacture of the complete clocks and watches reported as made in the United Kingdom. It would appear that considerable numbers of imported movements were put into cases by or for merchants from whom returns were not obtained in connection with the Census.
§ The following table shows the annual average number and declared value of complete clocks and watches, and movements therefor, imported into and retained in the United Kingdom during the years 1924 to 1928, inclusive.
1707| Number. | Declared Value. | |
| £ | ||
| Clocks, complete | 3,412,900 | 621,800 |
| Clock movements, complete | 619,100 | 93,300 |
| Watches complete | 4,072,100 | 973,300 |
| Watch movements, complete | 270,500 | 123,200 |