HC Deb 15 July 1915 vol 73 c1020W
Mr. GREENWOOD

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state approximately how much of the excess of British imports over exports for the last twelve months in respect of which returns have been published represents interest on British capital invested abroad, and how much represents freight and insurance paid to British shipowners and insurers?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

A calculation such as is suggested by my hon. Friend is a matter of great difficulty for any period, owing to the incompleteness of the data available; and I could not possibly undertake to frame any estimate for so short and recent a period as that mentioned in the question.

Forward to