§ MR. HARTSHORNasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the estimated volume of imports into the United Kingdom in each of the years 1913 to 1918, and in the first nine months of the present year?
§ Sir A. GEDDESThe value and estimated weight of the imports into the United Kingdom during each of the periods specified were as follows:
Period. Value of Imports.* Estimated weight of* Imports. £ Tons. Year 1913 768,735,000 54,548,000 1914 696,635,000 46,368,000 1915 851,893,000 45,470,000 1916 948,506,000 41,356,000 1917 1,064,165,000 33,957,000 1918 1,316,151,000 35,167,000 First 9 months of 1919 1,166,607,000 27,855,000 * The figures for the period from the beginning of the war up to July, 1917, include all articles of food, but do not include other goods which at the time of importation were known to be the property of His Majesty's Government or the Governments of the Allies.
§ Mr. MITCHELLasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the British imports from the United States of America during the six months February to July, 1919, and the United States of America exports to the United Kingdom during the six months January to June, 1919; whether it is reasonably accurate to assume that the difference between the totals represent the freight and insurance paid on American goods shipped to the 655W United Kingdom during the first half of 1919; if he will state the United States of America imports from the United Kingdom during the six months February to July, 1919, and the British exports to the United States of America during the six months January to June, 1919; and whether it is reasonably accurate to assume that the difference between the totals represents the freight and insurance paid on British goods shipped to the United States of America during the first half of 1919?
§ Sir A. GEDDESThe particulars of imports and exports asked for by my hon. Friend are as follow:
Apart from the fact that the available information does not permit of the separation of domestic from foreign merchandise exported from the United States of America to the United Kingdom in the period specified, any cargoes which were diverted from United Kingdom to other destinations as a result of transactions while the goods were on passage would appear in the United States of America record of exports to the United Kingdom, but not in the United Kingdom record of imports. With reference to exports from the United Kingdom to the United States of America, it would appear probable that the United States of America record includes some goods other than those covered by the United Kingdom record of exports of United Kingdom produce to the United States of America. I am, accordingly, unable to confirm the assumptions referred to by my hon. Friend.
- Imports into United Kingdom—
- Consigned from United States of America, February to July, 1919, £248,977,000.
- Exports from United States of America to United Kingdom, January to June, 1919, £236,756,000.
- Imports into United States of America from United Kingdom, February to July, 1919, £22,846,000.
- Exports from United Kingdom—
- Consigned to United States of America. January to June, 1919:
- United Kingdom Produce and Manufactures, £10,607,000.
- Foreign and Colonial Merchandise, £7,520,000.
§ Mr. MITCHELLasked the President of the Board of Trade what percentages of the British exports to the United States of 656W America and the American exports to the United Kingdom during the first six months of the present year were carried in British ships?
§ Sir A. GEDDESParticulars of exports classified according to the nationalities of the vessels on which the goods are shipped have not been compiled. The preparation of such information would involve a considerable expenditure on clerical labour, which would not, in my opinion, be justified.