§ Mr. McSHANEasked the President of the Board of Trade what is the annual consumption of matches in the United Kingdom; what proportion of these are home-produced and what proportion imported; and what proportion of the home-production and the imports, respectively, are made by firms affiliated or otherwise connected with the Swedish match combine?
§ Mr. W. R. SMITHDuring the year ended 31st March, 1927, the number of matches retained for consumption in the United Kingdom was about 141,000,000,000, but owing to a change in the method of levying the duty similar precise information is not available for any later period. The particulars furnished in the report of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise for the year ended 31st March, 1930 (Cmd. 3651) indicate that in that year approximately one-half of the total number of matches was made in this country. It would appear that the bulk of our supplies, both home manufactured and imported, are made by undertakings having connections with the Swedish Match Company, but I am unable to give exact proportions.