§ 6. Mr. Pageasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on trade between the United Kingdom and the Union of South Africa in 1956 and 1957, indicating particularly what categories of exports and imports show any significant change.
§ Sir D. EcclesExports to South Africa showed a satisfactory rise from £154 million in 1956 to £173 million in 1957, increases being recorded in cars, machinery and iron and steel. Imports, not including uranium and gold, rose by about £2 million in the period. With permission, I will circulate details in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. PageCan my right hon. Friend say, firstly, whether the two-way trade 1065 weeks had any appreciable effect on trade between these countries and, secondly, whether there are any plans for following up the interest created by that campaign?
§ Sir D. EcclesI believe those two-way weeks undoubtedly had a good effect, and we are planning to build a United Kingdom pavilion for the Witwatersrand show next year.
§ Following are the details:
| TRADE WITH THE UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA IN 1956 AND 1957 | ||
| — | 1956 | 1957 |
| £m. | £m. | |
| Imports: | ||
| Total: | 90.9 | 92.6 |
| of which— | ||
| Cereals | 10.5 | 7.0 |
| Fruit | 25.9 | 29.4 |
| Wool | 16.9 | 15.6 |
| Metalliferous ores | 10.5 | 13.6 |
| Exports: | ||
| Total: | 154.3 | 172.7 |
| of which— | ||
| Chemicals | 11.8 | 12.-8 |
| Iron and steel | 4.6 | 8.0 |
| Manufactures of metals | 11.0 | 9.1 |
| Machinery other than electric | 32.0 | 34.8 |
| Electric machinery | 15.6 | 17.9 |
| Railway vehicles | 5.0 | 7.2 |
| Road vehicles and aircraft | 19.0 | 27.9 |