HC Deb 13 April 1981 vol 3 cc10-1
9. Mr. Viggers

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list the value of exports of pharmaceutical products from the United Kingdom in 1980 and give an estimate of such exports in 1981.

The Minister for Trade (Mr. Cecil Parkinson)

The value of medicinal and pharmaceutical products exported from the United Kingdom in 1980 was £745 million fob. I prefer not to venture an estimate of future trade.

Mr. Viggers

Does my hon. Friend agree that pharmaceutical manufacturing is one of our most healthy industries, by any standards? Does he agree also that the Government's review and simplication of clinical trials procedures in medicines should enable British industry to keep up the research and development that is necessary to maintain this satisfactory position?

Mr. Parkinson

My hon. Friend is correct on both scores. The surplus of exports over imports of over £520 million points to the value of the industry to this country.

Mr. Pavitt

If the Department keeps figures of the re-imports which multinationals manufacture overseas, bring here and then take away, will he publish them in the Official Report?

Mr. Parkinson

As the hon. Gentleman knows, I always like to help him, but I cannot do so on this occasion, because we do not keep the figures.

Mr. Barry Jones

Does the Minister know that in my constituency Graessers Chemicals finds it difficult to export because of energy costs and the strong pound? Is he aware that at the weekend the company announced 80 redundancies and proposes that some of the products now made in my constituency should be made in France? What can the Minister do to prevent the export from my constituency of jobs in pharmaceuticals?

Mr. Parkinson

As the hon. Gentleman knows, my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in his Budget Statement a package of measures designed to help industry with its energy costs, to the value of over £120 million. In spite of the hard pound, last year British industry contrived to increase its exports substantially. The hard pound has forced companies to concentrate on their costs and to improve their service and after-sales service. Long-term benefits to Britain will result from the action that companies have had to take because of the hard pound.