§ 6. Sir JOHN WARDLAW-MILNEasked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent the Danish Government has restricted the imports of British manufactures during the past year?
§ Captain EUAN WALLACE (Secretary, Overseas Trade Department)Exact figures are not in my possession, but I am aware from the many complaints which have been made by United Kingdom exporters that during the greater part of the present year there has been a severe reduction in the issue of licences to individual Danish importers for the importation into Denmark of United Kingdom manufactures. The matter has formed the subject of repeated representations to the Danish Government, and will be pursued further.
§ Sir J. WARDLAW-MILNEIs it not the case that export manufacturers of Germany and other countries are much better treated by their Governments than are those in Britain?
§ Captain WALLACEI am afraid that I cannot answer that question without notice.
§ Sir PERCY HARRISAre these restrictions a retaliation for the restrictions in this country upon the import of Danish bacon?
§ 7. Sir J. WARDLAW-MILNEasked the President of the Board of Trade the figures of imports from and exports to Denmark during the past three years, showing separately the totals of manufactured goods; and the equivalent figures of purchases by Denmark from Germany and sales to Germany over the same period?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Dr. Burgin)As the answer involves a table of figures, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Sir JOSEPH NALLIs there not a considerable adverse balance of trade with Denmark?
§ Sir J. WARDLAW-MILNEWhen the hon. Gentleman supplies the figures, will he find it possible to give the figures of finished goods, which are the largest item on the list?
§ Dr. BURGINThe table asked for is a table of manufactured goods, and the table prepared is in accordance with the question. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will see it first, and put down another question if he finds it necessary to do so.
§ Following is the answer:
§ The table below shows the value of the purchases and sales by Denmark in trade with the United Kingdom and Germany during the years 1932, 1933 and 1934. Manufactured goods are not classified separately in the Danish trade statistics. The trade returns of the United Kingdom show that of the total exports consigned to Denmark roughly 75 per cent. was classified in each of the three years as articles wholly or mainly manufactured, and of the imports about 1 per cent. The corresponding figures for "fertige waren" taken from the German trade returns are about 75 per cent. in 1932 and 1933 and 80 per cent. in 1934 for exports, and for imports of Danish origin about 4 per cent. in each year.
| Year. | Total Purchases by Denmark from | Total Sales by Denmark to | ||
| United Kingdom. | Germany. | United Kingdom. | Germany. | |
| Million Kroner. | Million Kroner. | Million Kroner. | Million Kroner. | |
| 1932 | 254.9 | 296.1 | 728.0 | 149.7 |
| 1933 | 355.7 | 287.2 | 781.5 | 158.1 |
| 1934 | 407.1 | 288.3 | 740.5 | 188.6 |
§ Mean quoted rates of exchange:—
§ In 1932,18.64; in 1933,22.22;
§ In 1934,22.40 Kroner to £1.