Options and Futures. (Hansard, 27 February 1911)

§ Mr. FIELD

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the American and French Governments have under consideration the subject of preventing gambling in options and futures; and whether he will consider the advisability of holding an international conference with a view to obtain international co-operation upon anti-options and legislation?

Country.	Year, &c.	Articles wholly or mainly manufactured.^*
Imports (for Home Consumption).	Exports (Domestic Produce.
					£	£
United Kingdom	…	…	1903	…	116,328,000†	234,093,000
			1910§	…	129,502,000†	343,023,000
			Increase of 1910 over 1903:
			Total	…	13,174,000†	108,930,000
			Per cent.	…	11.3 per cent.	46.5 per cent.
United States	…	…	1903†	…	94,480,000	97,479,000
			1910‡§	…	136,061,000	160,064,000
			Increase of 1910 over 1903:
			Total	…	41,581,000	62,585,000
			Percent.	…	44.0 per cent.	64.2 per cent.
Germany	…	…	1903	…	59,391,000	161,326,000
			1910§	…	88,762,000	244,280,000
			Increase of 1910 over 1903:
			Total	…	29,371,000	82,954,000
			Per cent.	…	49.5 per cent.	51.4 per cent.
France	…	…	1903	…	32,756,000	96,540,000
			1910§	…	53,876,000	137,030,000
			Increase of 1910 over 1903:
			Total	…	21,120,000	40,490,000
			Per cent.	…	64.5 per cent.	41.9 per cent.

NOTE.—The systems of valuation adopted by the several countries differ materially, thus: For the United Kingdom, the values represent declared values at United Kingdom ports. For the United States, the import values are those at the port whence shipped to the United States, while the export values are those at the United States port of shipment. For Germany, the values given for imports and exports in 1903 and for imports in 1910 are almost entirely official values, whilst for exports in 1910, the values of "manufactures" are mostly declared values. The values of French imports and exports are almost entirely official values.

^* As classified in the returns of the several countries.

‡Years ended 30th June.

† Net imports, i.e., total imports less re-exports.

§ Provisional figures.

172W