HC Deb 27 April 1950 vol 474 cc110-2W
Mr. Russell

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a comprehensive statement of the quantity and value of goods and commodities bought in bulk from overseas by various Government Departments during 1949.

Mr. H. Wilson

The information asked for is given in the following tables:

BOARD OF TRADE
Material Quantity (a) Value (f.o.b.)
Tons 000's £000's
Timber 5,039.0 74,471
Raw materials from textiles (b) 238.5 26,660
Hides, skins and tanning materials 173.5 25,114
Papermaking materials and board 1,551.9 34,237
Materials for fertilizers and for the manufacture of sulphuric acid 2,390.6 14,213
Chemicals 372.8 2,486
Miscellaneous raw materials 15.6 656
9,781.9 177,837
(a) Arrivals in the United Kingdom as recorded by Controls.
(b) Does not include raw cotton which is purchased by the Raw Cotton Commission.
MINISTRY OF SUPPLY
Material Quantity (a) Value (f.o.b.)
Tons 000's £000's
Chrome Ore 120.0 612
Copper (blister and electrolytic) (b) 322.5 39,758
Lead 198.0 18,722
Tin ore (tin content) (c) 8.1 4,545
Virgin aluminium 175.0 15,460
Zinc 137.1 11,531
Pig iron (d) 46.7 750
Steel (d) 515.2 14,760
1,522.6 106,138
(a) Quantities tendered under contract for nonferrous metals; for pig-iron and steel. Arrivals in the United Kingdom as recorded on Customs Entries dock values adjusted to f.o.b.
(b) Excludes tonnages returned from toll refining overseas of Ministry copper and copper alloy scrap as refined copper.
(c) Excludes tonnages of tin ore bought and imported on private account although the metal produced in the United Kingdom from such purchases is taken over by the Ministry. Excludes also purchases of this metal in Malaya by the Ministry and sold direct to overseas consumers.
(d) Government purchase of pig iron and semifinished steel extended only over the first quarter of 1949. Private trade was resumed on 1st April, 1949. Government purchase of finished steel continued throughout 1949.
MINISTRY OF FOOD
Commodity Quantity (a) Value (f.o.b.)
Tons 000's £000's
Fruits and Vegetables (b) 865.4 37,537
Fish (c) 75.9 12,358
Meat and Bacon (d) 1,204.1 134,822
Tea, Coffee and Cocoa 396.0 84,650
Cereals, Pulses, Starch and Animal Feeding-stuffs 7,430.1 163,379
Sugar and Glucose 2,227.1 56,401
Milk Products, Eggs and Oils and Fats 2,602.8 263,236
14,801.4 752,383
(a) Amounts paid for in 1949. Excludes purchases shipped direct for overseas consumption.
(b) Including canned fruit, dried fruit, edible nuts and fruit juices.
(c) Including canned fish.
(d) Including canned meat, poultry and rabbits.
MINISTRY OF WORKS
Commodity Number (a) Value ex works
£000's
Excavators 134 1,416
(a) Arrivals in United Kingdom.