HC Deb 11 June 1953 vol 516 cc432-3
20. Mr. Anthony Greenwood

asked the President of the Board of Trade to state, in terms both of quantity and value the amount of cotton textiles exported from this country to the Argentine in each year from 1946 onwards.

The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Peter Thorneycroft)

Since there are many figures in the answer, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Greenwood

While I thank the right hon. Gentleman for that very helpful reply, may I ask whether he will not agree that the figures show that recently there has been a decline in these exports? Is he aware that there is a good deal of disappointment in Lancashire about the Government's failure to help industry in recent negotiations in the Argentine, and can he say whether the Government have any plans at all for arresting this decline in our exports to the Argentine?

Mr. Thomeycroft

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will study the figures, which show that there has been a decline since 1949.

Following are the figures:

UNITED KINGDOM EXPORTS TO ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
1946 1947 1948 1949
Cotton yarns and manufactures (except apparel, embroidery and cordage) Cotton yarns £ 3,301 14,206 448,115 762,892
lb. 7,495 31,014 663,147 1,214,281
Woven piece goods £ 388,919 935,218 1,528,756 1,941,731
Th. sq. yds. 3,600 6,305 10,109 10,769
Finished thread for sewing, crocheting, etc. £ 785,255 733,223 966,808 1,157,497
lb. 1,076,020 817,425 955,409 1,215,891
All other cotton manufac-tures. † £ 93,755 183,980 237,521 147,604
TOTAL† £ 1,271,230 1,866,627 3,181,200 4,009,724
1950 1951 1952 1953*
Cotton yarns and manufactures (except apparel, embroidery and cordage) Cotton yarns £ 320,882 25,920 270,582 3,552
lb. 603,011 30,833 454,012 3,612
Woven piece goods £ 734,952 185,851 35,615 13,578
Th. sq. yds. 3,639 782 114 43
Finished thread forsewing, crocheting, etc. £ 293,281 152,868 4,329 —
lb. 304,629 125,420 2,018 —
All other cotton manufac-tures.† £ 33,255 30,360 5,860 2,319
TOTAL† £ 1,382,370 394,999 316,386 19,449
* First four months at an annual rate.
†Quantity not available.