§ Mr. WISEasked the President of the Board of Trade the percentage of our exports and also our imports to and from the various countries of the world for 1921, 1922, and the six months of 1923?
1497W
§ Lieut.-Colonel BUCKLEYSeparate figures giving the value of exports from the United Kingdom to 115 foreign countries and 61 parts of the British Empire and of imports into the United Kingdom from each of these countries, for the years 1921 and 1922, will be found in the accounts relating to trade and navigation of the United Kingdom for January, 1923. Similar particulars relating to the first six months of 1923 will be published in the Trade Accounts for July, 1923, which will be issued in about a fortnight. Percentage figures are not included in these Tables. Their calculation would involve a good deal of clerical labour, and the result, if printed in the OFFICIAL REPORT, would cover many pages. In these circumstances perhaps my hon. Friend will find his purpose sufficiently met by the figures in the Trade Accounts; but if not, he might find it possible to specify a few countries or groups of countries for which percentages could be worked out.
§ Mr. PENNEFATHERasked the President of the Board of Trade the average value of our total imports and of our total visible exports for the last three years, and the estimated average value of our invisible exports for the same period?
§ Lieut.-Colonel BUCKLEYThe recorded values of imports and exports of merchandise and bullion during the last three completed calendar years have been as follow:
Year Total Imports. Total Exports. Million £. Million £ 1920 2,005 1,662 1921 1,147 882 1922 1,053 883 Average 1920 22 1,402 1,142 The figures of imports here given include the value of diamonds imported from South Africa, which are not included in the official record of imports into the United Kingdom. The average value of diamonds shown in the South African records as exported to this country during 1920–22 was approximately £5,500,000 per annum. Estimates which were set out in some detail in the "Board of Trade Journal" for 29th March. 1923 (pages 384–6), show an excess of "invisible" exports over corresponding imports amounting to £595,000,000 for 1920 and £325,000,000 for 1922. Similar calcula- 1498W tions for the year 1921 were not made on account of the uncertain conditions prevailing in that year.