HC Deb 24 November 1931 vol 260 cc239-40W
Major BRAITHWAITE

asked the President of the Board of Trade the figures of manufactured imports taken by England, America, France, Germany, Holland, Russia, Poland, and Denmark during the years 1929 and 1930?

Mr. HORE-BELISHA

The following statement shows the value of goods classed as manufactures imported into the under-mentioned countries during the years 1929 and 1930, so far as the particulars are available:

— On International Classification. On National Classification.
1929. 1929. 1930.
£'000 £'000 £'000
United Kingdom 235,100 306,702 284,352
United States of America. 235,300 387,978 280,507
(a) (a)
France 94,900 79,937 90,425
(a) (a)
Germany 111,100 111,077 87,993
Netherlands 94,600 95,813 89,744
Soviet Union (Russia). 35,100 35,120 60,097
Poland 32,900 32,876 23,803
Denmark Not available 45,582 Not yet available
(a) Provisional figures

Notes.

1. With the exception of the United States, for which only "Total Imports" are available, the figures relate throughout to Retained Imports.

2. The range of articles included in "goods classed as manufactures" varies according to the classifications adapted in the trade returns of the respective countries. Figures based throughout on a uniform classification are not available, but for the year 1929, the trade of all the above countries, except Denmark, has been re-classified in accordance with the International Classification laid down by the Brussels Convention, 1913, and, for this year, figures on the international as well as the national classification are included in the above table. The national classifications are as follow:

  • United Kingdom.—"Articles wholly or mainly manufactured," together with manufactured tobacco.
  • United States.—" Manufactures ready for consumption" and "Manufactures for further use in manufacturing."
  • France.—"Objects fabriqués."
  • Germany.—"Fertige Waren."
  • Netherlands.—"Fabrikaten."
  • Soviet Union.—"Izdeliya" (manufactures).
  • Poland.—"Wyroby gotowe (Produits fabriqués)."
  • Denmark.—
    1. (i) Halffabrikater og industriele Hjoelpestoffer.
    2. (ii) Foerdige Industri produkter.
    3. (iii) Stoffer til Braendsel og Belysning (except Coal).
Manufactured foodstuffs are excluded throughout.

3. Conversions from foreign currencies into sterling have been made at the approximate par rates of exchange.

Duchess of ATHOLL

asked the President of the Board of Trade the quantities and values of the imports from the Soviet Union for the 10 months ended 31st October, 1931, of the following: Barley, oats, maize, maize starch, bacon, ham, frozen pork, canned salmon, other fish, raw fruit, canned or bottled fruit, confectionery, glucose, pulp wood, raw cotton, linseed, rapeseed, mohair, plywood, doors and window frames, woollen carpets and rugs, petroleum (refined), maize starch (not for edible purposes), copper (bars, blocks, slabs, ingots, and cakes), copper (plates, strips, and rods), and crude zinc?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

I regret that the precise figures asked for by my Noble Friend cannot be made available without an expenditure of labour and money which, I am afraid could hardly be justified at the present time.