HC Deb 01 March 1938 vol 332 cc932-3W
Sir A. Wilson

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs why no action has yet been taken on the decision approved by the Imperial Conference, to build two fast high-class liners to combat subsidised American shipping competition in the Pacific; and whether they are likely to be laid down in the near future?

Mr. M. MacDonald

As stated in the Summary of Proceedings of the Imperial Conference, 1937 (Cmd. 5482), this question was referred to a sub-committee representing the Governments of the United Kingdom, Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia and New Zealand. The sub-committee reported that its discussions had reached finality. Further consultation between the Governments concerned accordingly took place, but as to this I am not yet in a position to add to what was said by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade in reply to the hon. Member for Pudsey and Otley (Sir C. G. Gibson) on 23rd November.

Country from and to which consigned. Date on which each Agreement came into force. Imports into the United Kingdom. Total exports from the United Kingdom. Excess of Exports of merchandise (+) or Imports of merchandise (−).
£'000. £'000. £'000.
Germany … 8th May, 1933 … 36,188 28,925 (-) 7,263
Denmark 20th June, 1933 36,552 17,550 (-) 19,002
20th June, 1936
Iceland … 28th June, 1933 … 322 561 (+) 239
Sweden … 7th July, 1933 … 26,232 13,975 (-) 12,257
Norway … 7th July, 1933 … 11,577 9,312 (-) 2,265
Finland … 23rd November, 1933 … 22,452 6,362 (-) 16,090
Soviet Union … 21st March, 1934 … 29,097 19,516 (-) 9,581
France … 1st July, 1934 … 25,666 30,051 (+) 4,385
Netherlands … 1st August, 1934 … 32,016 17,089 (-) 14,927
Lithuania … 12th August, 1934 … 3,272 1,963 (-) 1,309
Estonia … 8th September, 1934 … 2,261 1,580 (-) 681
Latvia … 12th October, 1934 … 5,355 1,845 (-) 3,510
Poland … 14th March, 1935 … 10,858 7,623 (-) 3,235
Uruguay … 3rd February, 1936 … 3,999 2,350 (-) 1,649
Turkey … 17th September, 1936 … 1,635 1,572 (-) 63
Peru … 9th October, 1936 (a) … 5,160 1,201 (-) 3,959
Italy … 16th November, 1936 … 7,822 5,576 (-) 2,246
Argentina … 20th November, 1936 … 59,927 20,400 (-) 39,527
Yugoslavia … 1st January, 1937 … 2,530 1,083 (-) 1,447
Cuba … (b) … 4,576 1,428 (-) 3,148
(a) Date of provisional entry into force of tariff provisions.
(b) Agreement not yet brought into force.

NOTE.—The above figures are provisional.