§ 3.5 p.m.
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, I beg to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will give particulars of imports and exports by the United Kingdom and Colonies with Japan, for the years 1955, 1956 and 1957, and the value of re-exports for those years through United Kingdom ports to Japan, also whether Her Majesty's Government can make a statement on the present negotiations between the British and the Japanese Governments concerning the trade between the two countries.]
§ THE MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO (LORD MANCROFT)My Lords, United Kingdom imports from Japan in each of the three years 1955–57 were about £24 million. United Kingdom exports to Japan in those years were £13 million, £22 million and £28 million respectively. Re-exports averaged about £1½ million annually. Imports into the Colonies were about £64 million in 1955, £87 million in 1956 and £90 million in 1957. Colonial exports to Japan were £18 million, £34 million and £33 million respectively in these years. The estimates for 1957 are provisional. The noble Lord, Lord Shepherd, will appreciate that, owing to the entrepôt and transit trade that takes place through Hong Kong and Singapore, it is not possible to give precise figures. For more detailed particulars. I would refer the noble Lord to the published Trade and Navigation Accounts for December, 1957, in respect of United Kingdom trade, and to the Digest of Colonial Statistics No. 36 in respect of Colonial Trade.
As to the second part of the noble Lord's Question, trade negotiations between this country and Japan started on 492 February 17 and are still in progress. These negotiations are, of course, confidential, and I can make no statement about them at this stage; but an announcement will be made in the usual way as soon as the talks are over.
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, may I first of all thank the noble Lord for his Answer. I would ask him if he is aware of the considerable difference between imports into this country and the Colonies and the exports of this country and the Colonies to Japan. In 1957 (if my additions are correct) there was a difference of approximately £50 million. Is the noble Lord aware that there is considerable concern in Yorkshire among woollen piece goods manufacturers at the threat of the Japanese Government to reduce the import licence allocation in the event of this country's not increasing its imports of canned food? May I ask the noble Lord whether he will impress upon the Japanese Government the necessity, or the desirability, of an increase in our woollen piece goods trade with Japan? May I further ask the noble Lord whether he is aware that these trade agreements are made yearly, and that this fact causes considerable inconvenience, concern and uncertainty among the trading community, and whether Her Majesty's Government would consider whether trade agreements of this character—if we must have them—could not be of, say. three years' duration?
§ LORD MANCROFTMy Lords, Her Majesty's Government have those points well in mind, and I believe that the representatives also have them in mind; but I will make quite certain that they do not go by default.