HC Deb 16 March 1981 vol 1 c11
11. Mr. Knox

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the surplus on visible trade with the European Economic Community in January; and how this compares with the position in January 1980 and January 1979.

Mr. Parkinson

In January of this year, the United Kingdom had a crude surplus of £369 million on her trade with the Community, compared with crude deficits of £218 million and £20 million in January 1979 and January 1980, respectively.

Mr. Knox

Does my hon. Friend agree that those figures show a remarkable improvement in our trade with the EEC over the last two years? By what percentage has the value of exports to the EEC from Britain increased since we joined the Community in 1973?

Mr. Parkinson

Our exports to the EEC have grown at an average annual rate of 28 per cent. since we joined the EEC. The figure is 19 per cent. for exports to the rest of the world.

Mr. Jay

Is the Minister aware that the Continental EEC would have bought as much oil from the United Kingdom if we had not joined the EEC, and would continue to do so if we withdrew?

Mr. Parkinson

I could not argue with that proposition. The proportion of our imports of manufactures from the EEC which we cover by our exports has grown substantially from 80 per cent. in 1979 to 88 per cent. in 1980. It is not true that the whole improvement depends on oil.

Mr. Skinner

What steps will the Minister take to ensure that some of the coal which is currently stocked in the United Kingdom is used to a greater extent inside the Common Market, since we seem to have to spend much of our money on goods from the Common Market while it seems to be importing considerable amounts of coal from Third world countries? Apart from the agreement which the Government are undertaking as a result of the muscle which has been shown by the miners recently, what steps are being taken by the Minister's Department to ensure that more British coal is sold inside the Common Market?

Mr. Parkinson

The hon. Gentleman raises an important point. There is a strong world-wide demand for coal. A number of Ministers from inside and outside the Common Market have asked me recently about the possibilities of buying British coal. The problem is that the price of British coal is too high. One of the reasons for that is that the British coal industry supports too many unprofitable pits. However, there is no shortage of demand for coal. We have to get the price right.