§ 25. Mr. Bellengerasked the President of the Board of Trade what is the estimated nett adverse balance of trade for 1937; and what are the comparative figures for the preceding two years?
Mr. StanleyThe estimates for the past three years were published in the Board of Trade Journal last Thursday.
§ Mr. BellengerDo those figures indicate an increasing adverse balance of trade against this country; and, if so, have the Government any proposal to deal with this serious situation?
Mr. StanleyThe figures, as the hon. Gentleman no doubt knows, show an 168 increase, but, although naturally any increase needs watching, I cannot think that the extent of it is such as to give ground for any great anxiety.
§ Colonel NathanIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the opinion is widespread in well informed circles that the figures are unduly optimistic; and will he take steps to rectify the figures printed in the Board of Trade Journal with the figures given by such authorities as Sir Robert Kindersley?
§ 27. Mr. G. Straussasked the President of the Board of Trade on what grounds his Department has, in its calculations of the country's trade deficit for 1937, estimated the income from shipping services at £130,000,000?
Mr. StanleyThe considerations taken into account in estimating the net national shipping income in 1937 are set out in detail in the Balance of Payments article in the Board of Trade Journal for last Thursday.