IMPORTS AND EXPORTS. (Hansard, 18 November 1930)

§ Mr. BENN

The total imports sad exports into and from India for the month of September, 1930, are not at present available. The totals for the two months of July and August are:

Imports intoIndia—Rs.26,41,15,043 (55.2 per cent. below the figure for the corresponding two months of 1920).

Exports from India—Rs.3S,60,09,932 (5.7 per cent. below the figure for the corresponding two months of 1920).

The figures for the trade between the United Kingdom and India only for the quarter ending September, 1930, are:

Imports into the United Kingdom—£13,326,737 (27.97 per cent. below the figure for the corresponding period of 1920).

267W

Exports of United Kingdom produce and manufactures—10,558,693 (79.10 per cent. below the figure for the corresponding period of 1920).

In connection with the above figures it should be noted that 1920 was a very abnormal year, and the sterling value of exports from the United Kingdom to India was nearly twice as great as in any other year either before or since. This was largely owing to the high value of the rupee.

The percentage increase or decrease of total imports into and exports from India for each month of 1930 as compared with the figure for the corresponding month of 1929 is:

—	Exports.	Import.
January	…	…	+ 11˙6	+ 34˙
February	…	…	- 8˙0	- 24˙6
March	…	…	+ 13˙2	+ 20˙
April	…	…	- 12˙4	- 13˙3
May	…	…	- 11˙2	- ˙9
June	…	…	- 5˙2	- 22˙5
July	…	…	+ 1˙2	- 1˙5
August	…	…	- 15˙9	- 6˙8

For reasons which I have explained in previous replies to my hon. Friend, exact monthly figures of the trade between the United Kingdom and India cannot be given, but the following are the figures for each quarter of the year:

Percentage decrease on the corresponding quarter of 1929 ending—
—	March.	June.	Sept.
Exports of United Kingdom produce and manufactures to India. (values)	-12˙9	-26˙5	-43˙6
Imports into the United Kingdom from India. (values)	-14˙4	-18˙3	-10˙7