Mr. DUNDAS WHITEasked the President of the Board of Trade what were the duties on imported wheat in the United Kingdom, Germany, and France, respectively, during the year 1912; what was the estimated percentage of imported wheat to the total wheat supply in each of these countries, respectively, during that year; and what was the average price per quarter in each of those countries, respectively, during that year of home-grown wheat, imported wheat, and wheat as a whole?
Mr. BUXTONThe following statement gives the information desired by my hon. Friend, so far as available. The information has been given for 1911, as well as for 1912, the figures available for the latter year being in some cases provisional only. The quarter referred to is the imperial quarter of 480 lbs.
(1) Import Duty leviable on Imported Wheat.
446W
Country. 1911. 1912. Per Quarter. Per Quarter. s. d. s. d. United Kingdom … Free Free Germany … 11 10 11 10 France … 12 2 12 2 (2) Estimated Total Quantity of Wheat and Wheat Flour (in grain equivalent) available for consumption.
Country. 1911. 1912. Million Quarters Million Quarters. United Kingdom … 34.1* 35.9* Germany … 30.2† 30.7† France … 48.0† 45.2† * Production plus net imports. † Production plus "special" imports. (3) Quantity of Imported Wheat and Wheat Flour (in grain equivalent) retained for consumption, included under (2).
Country. 1911. 1912. Million Quarters. Million Quarters. United Kingdom … 26.0‡ 28.7‡ Germany … 11.5║ 10.7║ France … 10.0║ 3.3║ ‡ Net imports, i.e, total imports less re-exports. ║ "Special" imports, i e., imports stated to be for home consumption. (4) Proportion of Imports retained for consumption to Total available for consumption.
Country. 1911. 1912. Per Cent. Per Cent. United Kingdom … 76.2 79.9 Germany … 38.1 34.9 France … 20.8 7.3 (5) Average Price of Home-grown Wheat.
447W
Country. 1911. 1912. Per Quarter. Per Quarter. s. d. s. d. United Kingdom § 31 8 34 9 Germany … ** ** France … ** ** § Gazette average price of British Wheat sold in England and Wales as published in the 'London Gazette." ** The prices of German and French Wheat are quoted irrespective of the origin of the grain. The statistics available do not distinguish between the prices of home-grown and imported wheat. (6) Average Value of Imported Wheat at the Ports of entry, exclusive of Duty.
Country. 1911. 1912. Per Quarter. Per Quarter. s. d. s. d. United Kingdom … 34 0 36 4†† Germany … 34 4 37 11†† France … 39 2 Not yetavailable. †† Provisional figures. (7) Average Price of Wheat as a whole.
Country. 1911. 1912. Per Quarter. Per Quarter. s. d. s. d. United Kingdom … ║║ ║║ Germany … 42 2 44 11†† France … 44 9 48 6† † †† Provisional figures. ║║ The only officially ascertained prices of wheat in this country are those relating to British Wheat sold at markets in England and Wales.