HC Deb 30 July 1925 vol 187 cc663-4W
Mr. J. DAVISON

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total tonnage of imported steel ship-plates for the years 1909 to 1913 and 1919 to 1924, respectively, and the average price per ton for each year; and the percentage of unemployment in the shipbuilding industry during the same periods?

Sir B. CHADWICK

I regret that particulars of the imports of steel ship-plates are not separately recorded. They were included before the War under the heading "Ship, Bridge, Boiler and other Plates and Sheets, not under ⅛ inch

Years Imports of Steel Plates and Sheets not under ⅛ in, thick. Imports of Steel Armour Plates. Imports of Iron Plates and Sheets not under ⅛ in thick
Quantity. Average Value Per ton.
Tons. Tons. Tons. £ s. d.
1920 … … 2,166 3,679 152,077 27 2 5
1921 … … 7,404 116 101,897 18 1 8
1922 … … 3,697 13 28,748 8 10 10
1923 … … 4,873 — 65,843 8 1 5
1924 … … 7,837 — 122,448 8 10 6

I am informed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour that the average percentages of unemployment in these years among the members of certain trade unions in the shipbuilding industry reporting to the Ministry of Labour were as follows:

1909 … … … … 22.1
1910 … … … … 13.2

thick," such plates of iron and steel being returned in one total. In and after 1920, particulars of the steel plates, and also of armour plate, included under this general heading have been separately stated. The following table shows the total imports into the United Kingdom of such plates, with the average declared value per ton, in the years specified:

Years. Imports of Iron and Steel Plates and Sheets not under ⅛ in. thick.
Quantity. Average Value per ton.
Tons. £ s. d.
1909 … 40,336 7 3 0
1910 … 57,765 7 11 11
1911 … 82,635 7 5 8
1912 … 75,496 7 3 8
1913 … 134,612 7 4 7
1919 … 10,731 22 13 8
1920 … 157,922 27 3 5
1921 … 109,317 18 1 1
1922 … 32,458 8 15 10
1923 … 70,716 8 2 7
1924 … 130,285 8 11 9
The figures for 1920–1924 include the quantities of steel armour plate and of iron plates and sheets shown below, and the separate figures of steel plates included in the preceding totals are also shown below.

1911 … … … … 4.3
1912 … … … … 3.9
1913 … … … … 3.1
1919 … … … … 3.5
1920 … … … … 7.0
1921 … … … … 38.5
1922 … … … … 49.1
1923 … … … … 43.2
1924 … … … … 31.3

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