HC Deb 16 December 1929 vol 233 cc992-3W
Mr. MAITLAND

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give detailed particulars for the past five years, in such a form as may be convenient, showing separately the values of the total exports by the British Empire to foreign countries, the values of the total imports of the British Empire from foreign countries, and the values of the total imports and exports as between each unit of the British Empire, respectively?

Mr. W. GRAHAM

A table showing the value of the merchandise (exclusive of gold and silver bullion and coin) passing in the trade of the British Empire, including mandated territories, during each of the years 1913 and 1922 to 1927, distinguishing foreign and inter-Imperial trade, appears on page 81 of the latest issue (No. 59) of the Statistical Abstract for the several British oversea Dominions and Protectorates (Cmd. 3434). The following statement gives the corresponding (provisional) figures for the year 1928:

Thousand
£
Trade between British countries and foreign countries:
Imports 1,376,353
Exports of domestic produce 941,091
Re-exports 133,428
Total trade with foreign countries 2,450,872

Trade between the United Kingdom and other British countries:
Imports 370,302
Exports of domestic produce 327,668
Re-exports 22,779

Trade between British countries other than the United Kingdom:
Imports* 135,821
Total inter-Imperial trade 856,570
Grand total 3,307,442

Percentage proportion of grand total represented by—

Trade with foreign countries … 74.1
Inter-Imperial trade … 25.9

Particulars of the trade of 43 units of the British Empire with the principal British and foreign countries are given in Table 105 (pages 178–230) of the Statistical Abstract referred to above; Table No. 25 on pages 253–256 gives similar particulars in respect of five mandated territories.

*The above figures are subject to the notes appended to the table in the Abstract referred to above; in particular,

— 1919. 1920. 1921. 1922. 1923.
Milk. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts.
Condensed not sweetened 1,003,385 269,031 612,934 270,106 426,628
Powder, not sweetened 115,972 60,431 53,242 78,824 84,276
Preserved, other kinds, not sweetened 52,396 92,288 120,146 90,365 24,603
Condensed, sweetened, whole 1,964,063 1,240,855 691,110 369,766 400,707
Condensed, sweetened, separated or skimmed. 181,827 464,584 873,178 1,249,989 1,430,418
Condensed, slightly sweetened, whether whole, separated or skimmed, entered at the lower rate of duty. — — — — —
Powder, sweetened 2 10 — — 7,411

— 1924. 1925. 1926. 1927. 1928.
Milk. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts.
Condensed, not sweetened 418,167 355,962 361,758 411,485 425,406
Powder, not sweetened 102,337 137,488 135,168 137,794 199,706
Preserved, other kinds, not sweetened 16,932 34,194 29,399 26,709 34,073
Condensed, sweetened, whole 317,003 289,543 257,133 253,272 297,015
Condensed, sweetened, separated or skimmed. 1,479,213 1,596,129 1,773,431 1,854,759 1,951,025
Condensed, slightly sweetened, whether whole, separated or skimmed, entered at the lower rate of duty. 2 — 1 — —
Powder, sweetened 57 34 1 32 63
Note.—From 1st April, 1923, the above figures relate to the trade of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, while prior to that date they relate to the trade of the British Isles as a whole.