HC Deb 24 July 1956 vol 557 cc195-7
28. Mr. Spence

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total dollar value of import licences for manufactured goods from Canada and the United States of America granted by his Department for the last convenient twelve-monthly period.

Mr. Low

Information about the total value of licences issued is not available

IMPORTS INTO THE UNITED KINGDOM FROM CANADA AND UNITED STATES OF AMERICA JUNE, 1955–MAY, 1956
£ c.i.f.
— Canada U.S.A. Total Canada and U.S.A.
CLASS D.—MANUFACTURED GOODS
1. Chemicals 7,479,519 24,336,823 31,816,342
2. Leather, Leather Manufactures and dressed Furs 703,500 114,543 818,043
3. Rubber Manufactures 221,476 226,737 448,213
4. Wood and Cork Manufactures (excluding Furniture) 2,843,377 1,976,456 4,819,833
5. Paper, Paperboard and Manufactures thereof 17,828,070 5,329,777 23,157,847
6. Woollen and Worsted Yarns and Woven Fabrics 97,527 91,842 189,369
7. Cotton Yarns and Woven Fabrics 17,051 35,616 52,667
8. Synthetic Fibre Yarns and Woven Fabrics 90,858 231,898 322,756
9. Miscellaneous Textile Manufactures 36,043 437,480 473,523
10. Miscellaneous Non-metallic Mineral Manufactures 481,965 445,691 927,656
11. Silver, Platinum and Jewellery 40,479 1,451,245 1,491,724
12. Iron and Steel 5,275,756 37,101,140 42,376,896
13. Non-ferrous Base Metals 76,611,909 7,931,310 84,543,219
14. Manufactures of Metals 1,263,508 1,011,308 2,274,816
15. Machinery other than Electric 1,999,123 34,307,493 36,306,616
16. Electric Machinery, Apparatus and Appliances 1,452,911 5,818,875 7,271,786
17. Railway Vehicles 1,084 401,209 402,293
18. Road Vehicles and Aircraft 931,875 11,536,616 12,468,491
19. Ships and Boats 2,221 11,791 14,012
20. Sanitary, Plumbing, Heating and Lighting Fixtures and Fittings; Buildings, Pre-fabricated; Furniture 12,815 116,011 128,826
21. Clothing, Footwear, Travel Goods and Handbags 331,941 642,861 974,802
22. Scientific Instruments; Photographic and Optical Goods, Watches and Clocks 213,427 3,925,826 4,139,253
23. Miscellaneous Manufactured Articles 357,333 3,869,542 4,226,875
TOTAL, CLASS D 118,293,768 141,352,090 259,645,858

since, for economy in administration, the Department does not compile records in this form.

29. Mr. Spence

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make available a list showing the description of all manufactured goods imported from Canada and the United States of America under licence from his Department during the past twelve months.

Mr. Low

Yes, Sir. A specific licence by value or quantity is required for the import from North America of most kinds of manufactured goods and I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing recorded imports from Canada and the United States under Class D of the Import List for the twelve months ended May, 1956.

Following is the table:

30. Mr. Spence

asked the President of the Board of Trade upon what basis the allocation of import licences for manufactured goods from Canada and the United States of America is made.

Mr. Low

The basis of allocation varies between commodities. If my hon. Friend would let me know which commodity he has in mind I will give him the details.