Mr. PALMERasked the President of the Board of Trade if he can give the figures relating to exports at a convenient pre-war date, in comparison with the latest Returns, on the basis of pre-War money values?
§ Mr. W. R. SMITHIn the year 1913, the exports from the United Kingdom were valued at £525 million. These figures relate to the trade of Great Britain and Ireland, while, since 1st April, 1923, the records of United Kingdom trade relate to Great Britain and Northern Ireland. During the twelve months ended September of the current year, the exports from the United Kingdom were valued at £732 million, and it may be estimated that the exports from the British Isles amounted, during that period, to approximately £699 million, 1413W a figure that excludes the trade between the United Kingdom and the Irish Free State.
Owing to changes in the character of goods recorded at different times under one and the same description, the calculation of the value of recent export aggregates on the basis of pre-war prices cannot be carried out with any high degree of reliability. Assigning, 1414W however, to the various categories of goods comprised in the total of £ 699 million the average values of the like categories in 1913, the resulting total is about £437 million. This figure would require to be increased in so far as the lower qualities of goods are, as appears probable, less fully represented, in comparison with the higher qualities, in recent export aggregates than in those of 1913.