HC Deb 30 July 1953 vol 518 cc183-4W
58. Mr. Turner

asked the President of the Board of Trade what the Special Register Information Service costs per annum; how many people are involved in preparing and supplying this service; and whether the £2 10s. per annum subscription to his export Department covers the postage.

IMPORTS INTO THE UNITED KINGDOM FROM MALTA*
£ (c.i.f.)
1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 Jan.-June, 1953
Fresh fruit and vegetables 12,480 61,292 239,363 208,085 126,074 189,022
Metal ores and scrap 38,697 55,598 49,979 60,403 84,192 29,719
Machinery 4,307 4,147 11,960 15,001 13,747 7,056
Cotton yarns and manufactures 39,018 19,609 3,874 3,740 2,235 1,230
Woollen and worsted yams and manufactures 22,585 1,168 552 396 1,757 961
Apparel 31,157 25,938 24,018 26,049 57,354 29,118
Oils, fats and resins, manufactured 140 121 106 24,745 7432 2,044
Vehicles 10,961 14,563 10,922 22,668 32,689 14,585
Miscellaneous manufactured 74,100 75,850 66,145 66,667 49,771 9,775
All other Imports 102,283 115,729 97,271 112,354 154,839 50,666
Total Imports 335,728 374,015 504,190 540,108 530,090 334,176
* Including GOZO.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

The cost of the Special Register Information Service for the year ending 30th June last was approximately £44,000; the number of people involved in preparing and supplying the service is 42. The subscription revenue much exceeds the total postage costs.