§ Mr. DAYasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state the total value of manufactured imports into the United Kingdom from the United States of America and vice versa for which figures are available for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date, and the amount admitted free of custom duty to either country in each case?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe latest figures available regarding the imports of duty-free goods into the United States of America from the United Kingdom relate2298W to the year 1934. During that year the imports from the United Kingdom of goods for home consumption classified as semi-manufactures and finished manufactures were valued at 69 million dollars, of which duty-free imports amounted to 23 million dollars (consisting largely of tin in blocks, ingots, etc., and of works of art over 100 years old).
The total declared value of the imports into the United Kingdom consigned from the United States of goods classified in the trade returns as wholly or mainly manufactured amounted to £25 million in 1934 and to £27 million in 1935. Precise information as to the amount of these imports entered free of duty is not compiled, but is estimated at about £3 million in 1934 and £4 million in 1935 (nearly half of which consisted of unwrought copper), excluding duty-free goods imported direct into registered shipbuilding yards or imported for use in the construction or repair of boilers or propelling machinery of ships.