asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether further investigations have caused him to make any change in the statement of the net balance of the external trade for the year ended 31st December, 1933, made by him on 27th February, 1935; and, if so, if he will re-state the net balance of the external trade for that year amended in accordance with any adjustments necessary; and if he will indicate the various items of invisible trade taken into account in arriving at the balance.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - External Trade Balance.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the net balance of the external trade for the year ended 31st December, 1934, and if he will indicate the various items of invisible trade taken into account in arriving at such balance.
I propose taking these two questions together. In the following table the values are given for the items of visible and invisible trade in 1933 and 1934, as far as these are known or have been estimated. The detailed investigations which are being made in my Department have proved more protracted than originally anticipated but good progress has been made and it is hoped to have available shortly a much improved statement on this matter. I should add that these inquiries have mostly been in relation to the two major "invisible" items "Income from investments abroad" and "Outgo from extern investments in Saorstát Eireann." Accordingly, in the figures for 1933 and 1934 which are appended these two items have been omitted. The figures for the "invisible" items for 1934 are still to be regarded as subject to revision.
1933 |
1934 |
|
£ |
£ |
|
Merchandise (incl. Parcel Post), domestic |
18,439,000 |
17,574,000 |
Bullion and Coin |
107,000 |
115,000 |
Emigrants' Remittances |
3,000,000 |
2,225,000 |
Estimated U.S.A. Tourist Expenditure |
400,000 |
400,000 |
Port Receipts estimated at |
235,000 |
250,000 |
Post, Telegraph, and Telephone earnings |
111,000 |
92,000 |
Withdrawals from British Post Office Savings Bank |
280,000 |
258,000 |
Encashment of British Savings Certificates |
41,000 |
35,000 |
Diplomatic, Consular and other Expenditure in Saorstát Eireann by foreign countries |
78,000 |
77,000 |
Miscellaneous Receipts (including Pensions paid by British Govt. to persons residing in Saorstát Eireann, and net receipts from Hospitals' Sweeps |
6,038,000 |
5,826,000 |
Outward or Debit Movement (Imports): |
||
Merchandise (incl. Parcel Post), Imports less ReExports |
35,208,000 |
38,771,000 |
Bullion and Coin |
87,000 |
92,000 |
Post, Telegraphy and Telephone Payments |
186,000 |
187,000 |
Annuity paid to the British Govt. in respect of damage to property |
250,000 |
249,000 |
Travelling, and Passage Money of Overseas emigrants, estimated at |
40,000 |
45,000 |
League of Nations and Representatives abroad |
62,000 |
59,000 |
Miscellaneous (incl. payments abroad by the Paymaster-General) |
156,000 |
103,000 |
There are some other heads of invisible trade for which it has not yet been possible to make even preliminary estimates.
The net balance of "visible" trade was £16,768,000 for the year 1933 and £21,197,000 for the year 1934.