Captain HENDERSONasked the President of the Board of Trade if he can give any information as to the amount of frozen fresh milk imported into this country from abroad?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAI would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given on 12th November to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Newbury (Brigadier-General Clifton Brown).
§ Mr. H. RUSSELLasked the President of the Board of Trade the figures of the total imports into the United Kingdom of iron and steel products during the first three weeks of November, 1931, as compared to the figures of 1930 for the same period?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on Tuesday last to my hon. Friend the Member for Rotherham (Mr. Herbert) respecting the objections to statistics for shorter periods than one month.
§ Mr. BURNETTasked the President of the Board of Trade the value of importations of vegetable parchment and of paper for newspapers during the months of September and October, 1931, respectively?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAThe total declared value of the imports of vegetable parchment and greaseproof paper (including substitutes therefor) into the United Kingdom registered during September and October, 1931, was £186,381 and £184,791, respectively. The value of the imports of news printing paper during these months amounted to £413,364 and £358,031, respectively. Separate particulars in regard to the imports of vegetable parchment are not available, as such information is not compiled by the Customs authorities.
§ Mr. GIBSONasked the President of the Board of Trade what were the imports of glazed kid from France from 1st 948W November to the latest date available; and what was the percentage increase on the imports during the same period of 1930?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAParticulars of the imports of glace kid dressed upper leather into the United Kingdom consigned from France are published monthly in the "Accounts relating to Trade and Navigation of the United Kingdom" and figures for November will be contained in the next issue (on 11th December). As regards imports during the expired portion of November, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on Tuesday last to my hon. Friend the Member for Rotherham (Mr. Herbert).
§ Mr. BURNETTasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is prepared to state the value of foreign combs, under Class III, Group T, imported into this country between the dates 1st and 10th November and the dates 11th and 20th November, 1931?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on Tuesday last to my hon. Friend the Member for Rotherham (Mr. Herbert) as regards statistics for shorter periods than one month. I may add that in any case combs are not separately recorded in the trade returns of the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. LLEWELLYN-JONESasked the President of the Board of Trade the quantity and value of foreign slates imported during the 12 months ended 31st October, 1931; and whether, having regard to the depression in the slate-quarrying industry, it is the intention of the Government to take any action to protect this industry?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANDuring the 12 months ended 31st October, 1931, the total imports of roofing slates into the United Kingdom registered as consigned from foreign countries amounted to 35,443 cwts. valued at £209,278. As regards the second part of the question I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 25th November to the hon. Members for Barnstaple (Sir B. Peto), Ealing (Sir F. Sanderson) and South-East Leeds (Major Milner).
Captain CAZALETasked the President of the Board of Trade what is the total amount of fresh milk imported from 949W Ireland, Denmark and Holland separately into this country during the last three months, separately, to the most convenient date?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHADuring the months of August, September and October, 1931, the total weight of fresh milk imported into the United Kingdom was 4,935 cwts., 3,330 cwts., and 4,589 cwts., respectively, all of which was consigned from the Irish Free State, principally over the land boundary into Northern Ireland.