HC Deb 01 February 1938 vol 331 cc12-3
23. Mr. David Adams

asked the President of the Board of Trade the shipments of coal from the principal shipping groups in the United Kingdom for the first 10 months of the years 1937 and 1936, respectively, namely. Northeast Coast ports, Humber ports, Scottish ports and South Wales ports; and the figures for general merchandise traffic, imports and exports, for the same period for the port of Newcastle and the imports of iron ore for the same periods?

Mr. Stanley

As the answer is lengthy and involves a number of figures I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the reply:

During the first 10 months of 1936 and 1937 the total quantities of coal exported and of bunker coal shipped for the use of steamers, etc., engaged in the foreign trade and of fishing vessels, from the specified groups of ports in the United Kingdom were as follow:

— Cargo coal. Bunker coal.
January-October, 1936. January-October, 1937. January-October, 1936. January-October, 1937.
Th. tons. Th. tons. Th. tons. Th. tons.
North-eastern ports … … 10,040 11,161 1,801 1,487
Humber ports … … 2,445 3,441 2,052 2,129
Scottish ports … … 4,484 4,566 1,779 1,660
Bristol Channel ports … … 10,779 13,490 2,188 2,454

As regards the second part of the question, particulars of imports and exports of general merchandise at individual ports are compiled only in respect of calendar years. The figures for Newcastle for the year 1936 appear on pages 81 to 84 of Volume IV of the "Annual Statement of the Trade of the United Kingdom" for 1936. Corresponding particulars for the year 1937 are not yet available. As regards the third part of the question, imports of iron ore and concentrates (excluding chrome iron ore and pyrites) into the United Kingdom during the first 10 months of 1937 amounted to 5,558,000 tons, valued at £6,124,000, as compared with 4,994,000 tons, valued at £4,400,000, during the corresponding period of 1936.