IMPORTS. (Hansard, 10 March 1930)

Sir H. SAMUEL

asked the President of the Board of Trade the values of the imports into the United Kingdom in 1928 from other countries of the British 933W Empire and from foreign countries, distinguishing in each case the values of goods not liable to duty on importation and of those liable to duty, and showing separately the particulars in respect of food, drink, and tobacco, raw materials and articles mainly unmanufactured, and articles wholly or mainly manufactured?

—	Food, Drink and Tobacco.	Raw materials and articles mainly unmanufactured.	Articles wholly or mainly manufactured.	Animals not for food, and parcel post, notdutiable articles.	Total.
				Mill. £	Mill. £	Mill. £	Mill. £	Mill. £
Imports consigned from foreign contrise:
Liable to Duty	…	…	…	67	8	68	—	143
Not liable to Duty	…	…	…	263	205	215	6	689
Total	…	…	…	330	213	283	6	832
Imports consigned from British countries:
Liable to Duty	…	…	…	58	—	3	—	61
Not liable to Duty	…	…	…	143	122	32	6	303
Total	…	…	…	201	122	35	6	364
Total Imports:
Liable to Duty	…	…	…	125	8	71	—	204
Not liable to Duty	…	…	…	406	327	247	12	992
Total	…	…	…	531	335	318	12	1,196

NOTES.—(1) Precise information is not available for the complete determination of the value of goods imported in 1928 which were liable to duty, in such cases as the following. It is improbable, however, that the figures shown in the table in round millions of pounds are affected to any important extent by these defects in the information on which they are based.

(a) Certain categories of manufactured goods contain a component liable to a specific duty, the amount of which is determined and recorded while the value of the dutiable component is not ascertained. It has been necessary, in preparing the table, to include the whole value of the goods under the description "liable to duty."
(b) Some classes of manufactured goods liable to duty have not been separately recorded in the table showing consignments from British and from foreign countries, but form parts of wider categories shown in those tables. The values of the classes liable to duty have been estimated as nearly as possible for the present purpose.

(2) In the course of the year 1028, certain goods became liable to duty, namely, hydrocarbon oils, buttons and mechanical lighters on 28th April and wrought enamelled hollowware on 13th June. The imports of these classes of goods for the whole of the year 1923 have been included in the table as liable to duty, though duties were actually chargeable during a portion only of the year.

(3) The total of £125,000,000 shown for food, drink and tobacco liable to duty is inclusive of £36,000,000 in respect of tea which, though liable to duty in 1928, ceased to be so liable from 28th April, 1929. Of the sum of £36,000,000, tea consigned from British countries (India and Ceylon) accounted for £31,000,000, thus representing over one-half of the value (£58,000,000) of the imports in 1928 of articles of food, drink and tobacco that were liable to duty and were consigned from British countries.

(4) The figures shown in the table relate to total imports, without deduction of goods subsequently reexported. In general, on the re-export of goods which have been charged with duty, a refund of the amount charged is allowed. Information is not available to enable the figures to be adjusted in respect of such re-exports.

(5) The values shown in the table in respect of goods consigned from British countries may include some goods not produced or manufactured in the British Empire; and some goods of Empire production or manufacture may be included in the values shown in respect of goods consigned from foreign countries.

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