§ 34. Mr. Jayasked the President of the Board of Trade the percentage increase in 1960 over 1959 in United Kingdom imports of food, raw materials, partly manufactured goods, and wholly manufactured goods, respectively.
§ Mr. MaudlingThe increases are 2 per cent., 14 per cent., 38 per cent., and 38 per cent. respectively.
§ Mr. JayDo not these figures clearly show that our present balance of payments difficulties are due, not solely to increased imports of raw materials and industrial materials, but to premature decontrol by the Government of our imports of finished consumer goods?
§ Mr. MaudlingIn fact, they show exactly the opposite—[Hors. MEMBERS: "Oh."]—yes, because percentages can be misleading. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] Of the wholly manufactured goods, only one-third were consumer goods and two-thirds were machinery and tools for industry, and the increase in imports of finished consumer goods between the two years was £45 million out of a total increase of £573 million.