§ 5. Mr. Biffenasked the Secretary of State for Trade what has been the value and volume of trade with South Africa over the latest available 12-month period; and what are the prospects for the maintenance and improvement of this trade.
§ 24. Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will make a statement on the amount of trade presently conducted with South Africa ; and what prospects he envisages for its future.
§ The Secretary of State for Trade and President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Peter Shore)United Kingdom imports from South Africa in 1973 were £400 million and exports £374 million. Volume 5 figures by country are not compiled. There are good opportunities for exporters, subject of course to the ban on military goods.
§ Mr. BiffenIn view of the undoubted magnitude of this trade, can the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether he believes that it enhances or diminishes the impact of apartheid?
§ Mr. ShoreThat is a difficult question to answer, in all fairness and seriousness. Some people undoubtedly take the view that the pressure on South Africa for change, which hon. Members on both sides would like to see, might be enhanced by adopting a policy of lesser trade with South Africa, but others take the view that on the whole one of the advantages of continuing trade with South Africa is that it will help the whole population as well as simply those who are clearly in a powerful economic position there. My own view is that, apart from military supplies, we should continue with the policy of trading in ordinary civilian goods.
§ Mr. Anthony GrantWill the Minister pay an early ministerial visit to South Africa and thereby give encouragement to our business men who are contributing so much to our balance of payments?