HC Deb 05 July 1971 vol 820 cc925-6
49. Mr. Scott-Hopkins

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the value of Australian purchases of the products of the British aircraft industry in 1968, 1969 and 1970, respectively.

Mr. Corfield

£11 million, £8 million and £5 million, respectively.

Mr. Scott-Hopkins

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that those figures show a considerable drop in the last three years, and underline yet again the fact that the Australian economy in this sector is looking elsewhere than to Britain—particularly towards America—for its exports and imports?

Mr. Corfield

Yes. I believe that in this field about 80 per cent. of Australian imports come from North America and only 6 per cent. from the United Kingdom.

Mr. Russell Kerr

Is the Minister aware that many Australians' enthusiasm for British exports began to expire with the first of our series of attempts to enter the Common Market?

Mr. Corfield

There was a certain sign of their expiring at the time of the TSR2 decision.