§ 2. Mr. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for Trade what proportion of total British exports were exports to the European Economic Community in the most recent 12-month period; and what was the proportion in the 12-month period immediately before the United Kingdom joined the Community.
§ The Minister for Trade (Mr. Cecil Parkinson)In 1980 43 per cent. of the United Kingdom's exports went to the European Community compared with 30 per cent. in 1972.
§ Mr. KnoxDoes my hon. Friend agree that the figures show clearly how beneficial our membership of the Community has been and how dangerous are suggestions that we should withdraw from the Community?
§ Mr. ParkinsonI think that my hon. Friend is right. It is interesting to note the number of representations from companies explaining to us that the movement of the pound against the dollar is no longer the most important movement for them and that the movement of the pound against other European currencies is far more important. That underlines the fact that increasingly our trade is dependent on Europe.
Mr. J. Enoch PowellDo not the figures equally show that it was beneficial for us formerly not to be part of the European Econoomic Community, since the percentages were then the reverse?
§ Mr. ParkinsonThe figures tell us that those who would advise us to withdraw from the Community should think carefully before they start arguing their case. There is no doubt that one of the factors that has caused the increase in trade has been the removal of trade barriers in the Community. We should seek to remove barriers in our trade with the rest of the world.
§ Mr. DykesIs it not remarkable that in the calender year 1980 we have achieved an overall balance surplus of £0.8 million in comparison with a deficit in the previous year of nearly £2½ million? Is not that not only a remarkable reflection of the ability of this country to trade increasingly in Europe but a vindication of our original entry and a proof, along the lines of the New Standard article today, that it was a pity we missed the bus originally, but now we should get on with our membership of the Community and make a success of it?
§ Mr. ParkinsonMy hon. Friend is right. The debate about whether we should be members of the EEC is sterile and damaging. We should take advantage of the fact that we are now members of a Community, with a huge potential market, where there are no barriers to our trade.
§ Mr. John FraserWill the Minister of State say what proportion of that trade with Europe is in oil?
§ Mr. ParkinsonHad we omitted oil from the figures, the answer would have been roughly the same. Our non-oil trade has risen from 30 per cent. to about 41 per cent., compared with 30 per cent. to 43 per cent. with oil, so the trend, whether in manufacturing or food, has been fairly uniformly a substantial increase in our trade.