Written Answers to Questions
Friday, February 8, 1935
Questions
Empire Trade (Foreign Merchant Vessels)
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has information to show the names and owners of foreign vessels which are chartered in Empire ports to bring goods to this country, and, vice versa, from this country to Empire ports; and, if such information is not available, whether he will, in the interests of the British mercantile marine, obtain it for publication?
I regret that this information is not available, and it would not be possible to obtain it.
Exports (Comparative Statistics)
asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of the exports of the following countries for 1934, or for the first 11 months of 1934 if the figures for the full year are not available for all the countries mentioned, and the percentage increase or decrease as compared with the same period of 1933: Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Greece, Austria, Jugoslavia, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Japan, the United States of America, and the Argentine; and by what percentage the active or passive balance of trade has increased or decreased in each case?
The following table gives the desired information:
Country. Unit of Currency. Exports of merchandise. Percentage increase (+) or decrease (-) in balance on merchandise account in 1934 as compared with 1933. 1934. Percentage increase (+) or decrease (-) in 1934 compared with 1933. Countries having an adverse balance on merchandise account in 1933 and 1934. United Kingdom … £'000 … … 396,108 (+) 7·7 (+) 10·4 France … … … Million francs … 17,822 (-) 3·5 (-) 47·4 Italy … … … Million lire … 5,232 (-) 12·7 (+) 68·8 Austria … … Thous. schillings … 863,024 (+) 11·9 (-) 22·0 Norway … … Thous. kroner … 570,055 (+) 3·7 (+) 46·4 Sweden … … … Thous. kronor … 1,293,896 (+) 20·0 (-) 73·0 Greece ( a )) … … Million drachma … 4,774 (-) 2·8 (+) 10·0 Japan ( a ) ( d )) … … Million yen … 1,932 (+) 16·3 (+) 60·6 Countries having a favourable balance on merchandise account in 1933 and 1934. Finland … … Million marks … 6,162 (+) 17·2 (+) 5·5 Canada … … … Thous. dollars … 652,887 (+) 22·8 (+) 7·2 Yugo Slavia ( a )) … Million diners … 3,417 (+) 10·1 (-) 66·8 Australia ( a )) … … £'000 … … 71,150 (-) 11·2 (-) 69·9 United States ( a )) … Thous. dollars … 1,932,254 (+) 32·6 (+)179·5 Argentine Republic ( a )) Thous. pesos (paper) 1,318,222 (+) 31·5 (+) 60·9 Union of South Africa ( b ).). £'000 … … 67,413 (-) 13·6 (-) 65·3 Favourable balance in 1933 followed by adverse balance in 1934. Germany … … Million Reichsmarks 4,167 (-) 14·5 ( c )) ( a ) Figures relate to period January to November only.) Figures relate to period January to November only. ( b ) Figures relate to period January to October only.) Figures relate to period January to October only. ( c ) Favourable balance in 1933, 668 million Reichsmarks; adverse balance in 1934, 284 million Reichsmarks.) Favourable balance in 1933, 668 million Reichsmarks; adverse balance in 1934, 284 million Reichsmarks. ( d ) The figures relate to the foreign trade of Japan proper only.) The figures relate to the foreign trade of Japan proper only. NOTE.—The particulars of exports of merchandise relate, so far as possible, to domestic produce and manufactures. The balance on merchandise account has been arrived at by relating these exports to imports for home consumption except in the cases of Australia and the Union of South Africa, for which the particulars are based upon total exports and total imports. For some of the countries imports and exports of bullion and specie have been unavoidably included.