§ Mr. M. MacPhersonasked the President of the Board of Trade what are the chief products of the iron-founding industry which are at present exported; to what countries are these sent; and whether the quantities of such exports have, since the end of the war, tended to increase or decrease.
§ Mr. H. WilsonI regret that it is not possible to give a precise reply to my hon. Friend for the reason that many products of the iron-founding industry are exported as component parts of other manufactures, e.g., machinery, vehicles, stoves, grates and gas appliances, while other products of the industry are not separately distinguished in the trade returns. The main items which are separately distinguished are cast-tubes, pipes and fittings, and cast hollow-ware. The principal countries to which these goods have been exported during 1949 are as follows:
Cast tubes, pipes and fittings: —Iran, Norway, Union of South Africa, Venezuela, Irish Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Netherlands, Turkey, Sweden, Bahrein, Koweit, Qatar and Trucial Oman, Argentine Republic.
Cast hollow-ware—Nigeria, Gold Coast, Union of South Africa, Kenya, Poland, Irish Republic, Australia, British Guiana.
The total quantities of these items exported in the period January to October, 1949, expressed as annual rates, were 104 per cent. and 29 per cent., respectively, higher than in the year 1946.