HC Deb 21 June 1982 vol 26 cc6-7
9. Mr. Park

asked the Minister for Trade if he will make a statement on the recent trend in the volume of visible exports.

Mr. Peter Rees

The export trend rose through 1981. Recent figures have been particularly volatile and therefore the underlying position is difficult to interpret. However, it is reassuring to note that export volume in the first quarter of 1982 is 3 per cent. above the level recorded for the same period a year ago.

Mr. Park

I accept that the figures fluctuate from month to month, but does the Minister accept that the figures for the latest three months taken together show a 5½ per cent. fall over the previous three months? If he examines exports of services by volume he will find that they fell by 3 per cent. in the first three months, which is 10 per cent. less than in 1979. How does that square with the tales of recovery?

Mr. Rees

The hon. Gentleman, with his dexterity with figures and statistics, no doubt endeavours—[Interruption.] I should like to pay a tribute without interruption—to make a case which is not substantiated by the figures. There was a fall in the January figures. That is why I referred to their volatility. The underlying trend is still strong, and I am happy to testify to the exporting strength of British industry and to the British service industry in particular.

Mr. McNally

How much do hidden barriers to trade still affect the volume of our exports? What proposals does the Minister have either to eradicate them or to retaliate against countries which employ such methods against British exporters?

Mr. Rees

Hidden barriers to trade undoubtedly have an impact on our exports, just as they have on some other countries' exports, too. It is a matter that we shall want to press inside the European Community, particularly with regard to the directive on insurance. We are also concerned with hidden barriers in Japan. That is a matter that we take up regularly and with varying degrees of success.

Mr. Woolmer

We all wish British exports to succeed and we applaud the enormous efforts made by British manufacturers, management and workers, but surely the Minister recognises that British Business, published by the Departments of Industry and Trade, at the end of May said that, despite the problems of volatility, the underlying trend in exports is, at best, flat. Is that not the truth, however much we might want it otherwise? Why does the hon. and learned Gentleman mislead not only the House but the country by false optimism, just as the Treasury Ministers have misled us?

Mr. Rees

I am sure that the House will be reassured by the statement that the Opposition wish British exporters well. Sometimes that does not shine through in the questions that they put to me and to my hon. Friends. We have stated with perfect truth that the trend is flat, but, as I said earlier, in a period of world recession we have done very well to maintain our level of exports by contrast with other countries.