§ 33. Mr. Leadbitterasked the President of the Board of Trade what has been Great Britain's share of world export markets for manufactured goods for the years 1964, 1965, 1966 and the latest position for 1967, respectively.
§ Mr. CroslandThe United Kingdom's share of exports of manufactures by the main manufacturing countries was 14.0 per cent. in 1964, 13.5 per cent. in 1965, 12.9 per cent. in 1966, and 12.6 per cent. in the first six months of 1967. Ten years ago it was 19 per cent.
§ Mr. LeadbitterIs my right hon. Friend aware that our share of manufactured exports in the world has been falling for a considerable time? Is he aware that some of us believe that this is due to an excess of energy being used to get into the Common Market, and our designing our economic policies for that purpose? Does he agree that we should 1311 get off this hobby-horse and develop world and Commonwealth markets instead?
§ Mr. CroslandI regret to say that the fall in our share of the trade in manufactures began long before anybody considered the Common Market.