HC Deb 21 July 1920 vol 186 cc2020-1W
Captain GARRO-JONES

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can now give a Return of the applications for the export of machine guns during the last eight months, together with the reply in each case and the destination in the case of applications granted?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER

The following statement gives particulars of the applications in question which have been disposed of. In addition, two applications are still under consideration:

during the last two decades; and how this production compares with that of Germany and the United States, taking into consideration the growth of the population?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER

Figures for the war years are so abnormal that I would propose to give my hon. and gallant Friend figures for the five years ended 1908, 1913 and 1924 and for the year 1924.

I. The following statement shows the growth of the population and the fluctuations in the output of pig iron and crude steel in Great Britain during the periods specified:

Period, etc. Population. Production of —
Pig Iron. Crude Steel.
(a) Actual Figures:—
Annual Average— Thousands. Tons. Tons.
1904–1908 … … … … 38,967 9,531,346 5,823,965
1909–1913 … … … … 40,784 9,616,427 6,635,548
1920–1924 … … … … 42,975 6,062,500 7,070,800
Year 1924 … … … … 43,628 7,318,900 8,221,100
(b) Expressed as Percentages:—
Annual Average— Per cent. Per cent. Per cent.
1904–1908 … … … … 100.0 100.0 100.0
1909–1913 … … … … 104.7 100.9 113.9
1920–1924 … … … … 110.3 63.6 121.4
Year 1924 … … … … 112.0 76.8 141.2

11. The following statement shows the fluctuations in the output of pig iron and crude steel per 1,000 of the population in

Period, etc. Production per 1,000 of the respective populations.
In Great Britain. In Germany. In United States.
Pig Iron. Crude Steel. Pig Iron. Crude Steel. Pig Iron. Crude Steel.
Actual Figures:—
Annual Average:— Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons.
1904–1908 … … 244.6 149.5 185.6 171.1 248.2 220.6
1909–1913 … … 235.8 162.7 240.5 231.0 293.5 291.0
1920–1924 … … 141.1 164.5 115.2 143.0 278.8 329.2
Year 1924 … … 167.8 188.4 123.3 135.7 277.6 333.1