HC Deb 02 May 1933 vol 277 cc657-8
27. Mr. HANNON

asked the President of the Board of Trade if any estimate has been prepared for any recent year of the total turnover of the home trade of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; and if figures are available showing the proportion of British production absorbed in the home market and the ratio between this volume of consumption and the total export of home-manufactured British goods?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

I regret that the desired information is not available in respect of any recent year. From the information obtained in connection with the Third Census of Production, it has been estimated that the value at the places of production of the goods of all kinds produced in the United Kingdom in 1924 was about £2,655,000,000, and that approximately 73 per cent, of the total output was absorbed in the home market and 27 per cent. exported.

Mr. HANNON

Does not this answer indicate that the Government ought to pay more attention to the home market than they are giving to our export trade, and is it not most important that the home market should be protected as far as possible?

Viscountess ASTOR

Is it not literally true that we live by our exports?