HC Deb 25 June 1931 vol 254 cc636-7W
Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLE

asked the Secretary of State for India how many persons are employed in the manufacture of iron and steel and iron and steel goods in India; how many companies are registered for the purpose of such production; what is the present rate of duty on iron and steel goods imported into India; and what has been the annual output of iron and steel in India since the duty was first imposed?

Mr. BENN

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to page 703 of the Statistical Abstract for British India from 1919–1920 to 1928–1929 (Cmd. 3882). Later figures are not available. The number of joint stock enterprises registered in India at work at the end of 1927–28 in the iron, steel and shipbuilding trades was 47. No separate figures or later figures are available. In addition there were 18 companies incorporated elsewhere than in India, but working in India in the year ending 31st March, 1928. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the Indian Tariff now in force. As regards the last part of the question, the latest information available is that given on page 48 of the Statistical Abstract for the British Dominions and Protectorates for 1913, and 1922 to 1927 (Cmd. 3434), namely:

Mr. BENN

There are so many subheadings of iron and steel manufactures in the Indian Tariff that the first part of the question cannot be answered fully within the limits of a Parliamentary reply, but I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the Indian Tariffs for 1930 and 1931 (the latter in connection with his previous question), and the tariffs for earlier years will be found in the Statistical Abstracts for British India which are in the Library of the House. The protective duties on iron and steel were first imposed in 1924 but revenue duties were levied for many years before that date. The following quantities of iron and steel were imported into India from the United Kingdom in the years shown:—

Tons.
1923–24 … … … 429,000
1924–25 … … … 439,000
1925–26 … … … 489,000
1926–27 … … … 406,000
1927–28 … … … 685,000
1928–29 … … … 650,000
1929–30 … … … 486,000