§ 28. Colonel Stoddart-Scottasked the President of the Board of Trade the countries from which we imported 328 tons of typewriters in the year 1947; and the countries to which we exported 327 tons of typewriters in the same period.
§ Mr. H. WilsonAs the reply contains a list of countries, I will, with the hon. and gallant Member's permission, circulate the particulars in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Colonel Stoddart-ScottWill the right hon. Gentleman tell us how much we have paid per ton for these typewriters we have imported, and how much we have got per ton for those we have exported?
§ Mr. WilsonI would require notice of that question, but the total exports for the year were 427,000 tons and the imports were 569,000 tons.
§ Mr. OsborneWhy do we import foreign typewriters at all, since excellent typewriters are made in the Midlands?
§ Mr. WilsonYes, but a large proportion of imports are spares for types which are not made in this country. I would not be prepared to interfere directly with present exports of typewriters. Many of them are dollar saving exports to countries chiefly within the sterling area.
§ Following are the particulars:
§ The tonnages quoted by the hon. and gallant Member relate to typewriters and also to parts of typewriters. The countries from which these goods were imported in 1947 were: United States, Canada, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany.
§ The principal countries to which similar goods were exported were: Australia, Burma, Denmark, New Zealand, British East Africa, British India, Belgium, Netherlands, Ceylon, Union of South Africa, Canada, Palestine, Argentine Republic, Brazil, British West India Islands, British West Africa, Eire, Sweden, British Malaya, Switzerland, Portugal.