Mr. L. SMITHasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what was the value in 1913 and 1924, respectively, of the imports into the United Kingdom for home consumption of articles completely manufactured and ready for consumption; and what was the proportion of such 460W imports in each of those years to the total imports for home consumption of manufactures, and all articles, respectively
(2) what was the value in 1913 and 1924. respectively, of the imports into the United Kingdom for home consumption of iron and steel goods completely manufactured and ready for consumption; and what was the proportion of such imports in each of those years to the total imports of iron and steel, and manufactures thereof?
Mr. SAMUELAs far as the character of goods imported can be correctly judged from the descriptions under which the import entries regarding them are made, the values of goods completely manufactured and ready for consumption, imported during 1913 and 1924. after deduction of the re-exports of similar goods in those years, were as follows:
Goods completely manufactured and ready for consumption. £ Net imports in 1913 60,200,000 Net imports in 1994 115,000,000 These goods represented 10.2 per cent. in 1913 and 10.1 per cent. in 1924 of the value of the aggregate net imports of goods of all kinds, and 39.2 per cent. in 1913 and 43.2 per cent. in 1924 of the net imports of "Articles wholly or mainly manufactured."
For iron and steel and manufactures thereof, similar figures of net imports are:
Iron and steel goods completely manufactured and ready for consumption. £ Net imports in 1913 1,660,000 Net imports in 1924 1,560,000 These goods represented 10.7 per cent. in 1913 and 7.1 per cent. in 1924 of the aggregate net imports of "Iron and steel and manufactures thereof."
It should be noted that the figures for 1913 relate to Great Britain and Ireland, those for 1924 to Great Britain and Northern Ireland