§ 5. Mr. Spearingasked the Minister for Trade if he will state the actual and estimated figures of United Kingdom imports from, and exports to, the rest of the European Community of manufactures for the year 1982.
§ Mr. Peter ReesIn the 11 months January to November 1982 United Kingdom exports of manufactures to other EC countries totalled £12.7 billion and imports were £l7.2 billion. Figures for the whole year will not be available until the publication of the December trade figures.
§ Mr. SpearingAs the figures for the whole year will be even worse than the deficit of £5 billion in manufactured goods that the Minister has announced, is it not clear that the forecasts of positive and substantial benefits to trade, which were made in the Government White Paper on the European Community in 1971, are proving to be wrong and that the "substantial" benefits are negative? Does that not mean that the burden of the CAP is not offset by any advantage and that we should negotiate to leave the Common Market at once?
§ Mr. ReesNo such conclusion should be drawn from the hon. Gentleman's spurious analysis. He conveniently overlooks the considerable surpluses in our trade in invisibles and oil with the EC.
§ Mr. SquireDoes my hon. and learned Friend agree that as the Community covers a range of trades it is unlikely that singling out one item would provide a good or bad reason for membership?
§ Mr. ReesI agree with my hon. Friend that the analysis of the hon. Member for Newham, South (Mr. Spearing) was extremely limited and misleading.
§ Mr. ArcherDoes the Minister agree that this may not be the appropriate time for the Government to embark on staff cuts of 25 per cent. at the British Overseas Trade Board, apparently with a view to ending the sponsoring of outward trade missions? Does he believe that in such circumstances British exporters can compete with foreign producers whose Governments do not bear their misfortunes with such fortitude and who regard export drives as their business?
§ Mr. ReesI am satisfied that, as our trade figures demonstrate, we give adequate support to British exporters.
§ Sir Anthony MeyerIs not the coverage of imports by exports very much better with the EC than with any of our other industrial trading partners? Can my hon. and learned Friend explain how the establishment of a free trade area, instead of a common market with the EC, would help to resolve our problems?
§ Mr. ReesI am entirely unable to follow the consequences of the policies on the EC apparently propounded by the Labour party.
§ Mr. DeakinsIn what way, if any, has our total trade in manufactured goods benefited as a result of entry into the EC, and in what way will it benefit with continued membership?
§ Mr. ReesI am unable to understand why the hon. Gentleman should overlook, as many of his hon. Friends have, our trade in oil products and services which give—
§ Mr. SpearingJobs. That is the answer.
§ Mr. Rees—an entirely different picture. I remind the House of the figure that I gave in reply to an earlier question, when I said that about 11.5 million of our countrymen are employed in service industries.