§ Mr. CAPORNasked the President of the Board of Trade the imports of cane and wicker furniture during the period of September to November for the last two years?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe total declared value of the imports of cane and wicker furniture into the United Kingdom registered during the three months September to November, 1930 and 1931, was £3,444 and £1,406 respectively.
§ Mr. BOULTONasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will issue a table giving a percentage comparison between imports Class 3, iron and steel goods, during September, October, and November of 1929, and during the same months in 1931, together with a similar percentage comparison relating to Class 3 goods on which a Customs Duty has been already imposed under the Abnormal Importations (Customs Duties) Act, 1931?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANMy hon. Friend will find particulars of the imports of iron and steel and manufactures thereof during the months of September, October and November, 1929 to 1931, in the "Accounts relating to Trade and Navigation of the United Kingdom" for those months of 1931. Similar particulars have not been compiled for the aggregate of the goods covered by the Orders made under the Abnormal Importations (Customs Duties) Act, 1931, but for most of these goods particulars will be found in the monthly accounts in question.
§ Dr. WORTHINGTONasked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he
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§ Major COLVILLE, pursuant to his answer [OFFICIAL REPORT, 9TH DECEMBER, 1931; col. 1853, Vol. 260]; supplies the following statement:
proposes to take in relation to the petition from the manufacturers of poultry appliances for the imposition of import duties, in view of the amount of unemployment in this trade, and seeing that the busy season in the sale of these goods is now commencing?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 8th December to my Noble Friend the Member for Newark (Marquess of Titchfield) and other hon. Members.
§ Mr. GLEDHILLasked the President of the Board of Trade on what grounds aseptic hospital furniture was specifically excluded from the Abnormal Importations (Customs Duties) (No. 1) Order issued on 20th November; and whether, as British manufacturers are in a position to provide all the aseptic furniture required for hospital use at prices not in excess of those at present charged, he is prepared to reconsider his decision.
§ M. RUNCIMANThe full heading in the Import and Export List under which imports of metallic furniture were found to be abnormal, specifically excludes aseptic hospital furniture. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 8th December to the hon. Member for Sunderland (Mr. L. Thompson) and several other hon. Members.
§ Mr. THORNEasked the President of the Board of Trade the total quantity of bitumen imported for road purposes for the quarters ended October, 1930, and October, 1931, respectively?
§ Major COLVILLEParticulars of the imports of bitumen, as such, into the 2237W United Kingdom are not separately recorded in the trade returns of the United Kingdom. The hon. Member will, however, find particulars of the imports of "asphalt and bitumen" in the monthly "Accounts relating to Trade and Navigation of the United Kingdom." I am unable to say what proportion of these imports was intended for road-making purposes.