HC Deb 10 May 1995 vol 259 cc741-2
13. Mr. Dalyell

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of the trade with Libya for any convenient years in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, at adjusted or current prices; and what is the value in the last financial year. [21954]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Technology (Mr. Ian Taylor)

In 1966, UK imports from Libya were worth £61 million while exports were worth £29 million. In 1974, imports were worth £386 million and exports £64 million. In 1984, imports were worth £165 million and exports £246 million. In the financial year ended March 1995, imports were worth £153 million and exports £185 million.

Mr. Dalyell

Is it not true that, partly because the present generation of decision makers in Libya were mostly educated at British universities and British technical colleges, not in the United States, British industry has been hit far harder than industry in America, let alone in Germany, Italy and Greece, which pay not a blind bit of notice to the sanctions? Will the Department ask two or three senior officials to look carefully at the film on Channel 4 which is to be screened for more than two hours tomorrow evening and which casts the gravest doubts on whether the Libyans were responsible for the Lockerbie crime? Are we not hurting British industry by looking at sanctions without a certain critical faculty?

Mr. Taylor

I know that the hon. Gentleman takes a deep and understandable interest in the Lockerbie tragedy, which has led to his asking many questions about Libya. Libya is, at best, a marginal market for us, so it is not possible to evaluate exactly the effect on British business of our observing the United Nations sanctions. However, our relations with Libya have been troubled over a period.

I cannot comment on the film "The Maltese Double Cross", which is' due to be shown tomorrow evening on Channel 4. Its editorial content must be the responsibility of the producer, but I have heard comments by others and, indeed, I saw comment in The Sunday Times, which cast doubt on the authenticity of the argument advanced. We will have to watch and judge, but at the moment the Government are upholding the UN sanctions that were imposed in 1992.