§ 2.45 p.m.
§ Lord AUCKLANDMy Lords, I beg leave 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 what is the current balance of trade between the United Kingdom and Romania and what plans they have in mind to increase exports during the current year, particularly in the field of chemicals and mechanical goods.
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, the total visible trade between the United Kingdom and Romania in 1974 was £67.8 million, and the crude balance was £767,000 in Romania's favour. During the course of the recent United Kingdom/Romania Joint Governmental Commission, the Romanian delegation made known some of their likely import requirements for 1975 and the period 1976 to 1980, including some in the areas mentioned in the noble Lord's Question, which might be met by exports from the United Kingdom. The Department of Trade will vigorously pursue the opportunities presented.
§ Lord AUCKLANDMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his Answer to that Question. Is the noble Lord aware that in Romania there are considerable schemes in hand for irrigation and for construction? Can the noble Lord say whether British construction companies, and those companies which are making irrigation plant and so on, will have every opportunity to export goods to this country, in view of the fact that imports from Romania have ostensibly increased over the past months?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, the British construction industry, as I know from personal experience, has made a very substantial contribution to the improvement of facilities for irrigation in Romania. I am certain that the work which has been done in the past will bear fruit in future orders.