HC Deb 04 March 1969 vol 779 cc201-2
19. Mr. Marten

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now include the payments for military aircraft from the United States of America in the regular balance of visible trade and payments figures.

Mr. Roy Jenkins

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Minister of State Board of Trade on 12th February to the hon. Member for Honiton (Mr. Emery).—[Vol. 777, c. 25.]

Mr. Marten

As military aircraft are shipments just as much as anything else, can the Chancellor say what is the reason for excluding them from the visible trade balance?

Mr. Jenkins

Apart from anything else, the progress payments on these aircraft have been included in the balance of payments figures since 1964, which was substantially before the aircraft started to be delivered. Having done this, if we were now to include them in the normal way in visible imports, we would be publishing them twice.

Mr. Dalyell

Is it not a fact that under Tory Governments such figures were concealed?

Mr. Jenkins

I think that I would prefer not to pronounce on that.