§ Commander BELLAIRSasked the President of the Board of Trade for figures for some period of 1928 showing the percentage of British artificial silk yarn used in manufacture in this country now, with the average price and the percentage before the duty was imposed as well as the average price then?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe production of artificial silk yarn or straw in the United Kingdom during the first six months of 1928 was 25,194,000 lbs. During the same period exports of artificial silk yarn, thread and straw were 4,192,000 lbs. and net imports were 1,446,000 lbs., so that the amount available for consumption in this country was about 22,448,000 lbs., of which about 93 per cent. was of home manufacture. In theentire year 1924, production in the United Kingdom amounted to 25,652,000 lbs.; exports to 6,351,000 lbs., and net imports to 10,151,000 lbs.; the amount available for consumption in the United Kingdom was thus about 29,452,000 lbs., of which about 66 per cent, was of home manufacture. Figures are not available to show how stocks varied during the periods mentioned, and therefore it is not possible to say precisely what quantities were actually used in industry within the periods specified. A comparison between the average prices for the two periods is not practicable, but it is known that there has been a. considerable fall in prices.