Mr. SINKINSONasked the President of the Board of Trade what is the difference per ton of copper bar, pipe, or wire of British and Continental manufacturers; and, seeing that the British prices are so much higher than the Continental, will he have inquiry made into the case?
Mr. W. GRAHAMI understand that for raw copper there is no substantial difference in price between British and Continental goods, but that for more finished goods differences in quality make exact price comparisons difficult or impossible. I do not think there is any necessity for an inquiry, but if my hon. Friend will communicate with me on any detail he has in mind, I shall be glad to give him such additional information as I can.
Period. Imports of Raw Cotton retained in the United Kingdom. From all sources. Of which consigned from British Countries. Amount. Proportion of Imports from all sources. Quantity. Annual Average: Million lbs. Millions lbs. Per cent. 1906–1908 … … 1,662.7 45.8 2.5 1911–1913 … … 2 104.9 51.3 2.4 1926–1928 (a) … … 1,482.9 154.6 10.4 Declared Value. £'000 £'000 Per cent. 1906–1908 … … 52,549 1,050 2.0 1911–1913 … … 63,838 1,479 2.3 1926–1928 (a) … … 69,521 8,035 11.6 (a) The figures for this period are exclusive of imports of cotton linters and unmanufactured cotton waste, unavoidably included in the figures for the earlier years. The average annual amount of such imports in 1926–28 was 69 million lbs. valued at £1,600,000. Consignments from British Countries were insignificant.