§ 52. Mr. H. WILLIAMSasked the President of the Board of Trade the percentage 1251 increase in the volume of the exports of British manufactures in the first three months of the present year, compared with the last corresponding period prior to the passage of the Import Duties Act, that is to say, the first quarter of 1931; and what change took place between the first quarter of 1929 and the first quarter of 1931?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Dr. Burgin)Eliminating the effect of price changes, it is estimated that the volume of domestic exports of articles classified as wholly or mainly manufactured was 8 per cent. greater in the first quarter of 1934 than in the corresponding quarter of 1931, in which period the volume was 39 per cent. below that in the first quarter of 1929.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSAre we to understand that the decrease in exports, to which Free Traders are always referring, nearly all happened before we introduced tariffs?