HL Deb 19 July 1982 vol 433 c620

2.46 p.m.

Baroness Elliot of Harwood

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the figure earned by the wool industry in exports in January 1981 and in January 1982.

Lord Lyell

My Lords, the f.o.b. values of woollen and worsted textiles exported from the United Kingdom in January 1981 and January 1982 were £22 million and £23 million respectively.

Baroness Elliot of Harwood

My Lords, I am delighted to hear that this is an increasing export, in view of the fact that exports are so vital to us. I hope that the Government will help in every possible way the production and exports of the woollen trade.

Lord Lyell

My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for her robust support. Indeed, the Government are concerned to improve the competitiveness of British industry generally, and the wool industry in particular.

Lord Bishopston

My Lords, can the noble Lord give us figures for the year, because the figures for 1979 total about £386 million, which rather suggests better exports for the year than the figures given? Are the Government satisfied that the Woollen Industry Research Association is still able to help to keep our industry competitive?

Lord Lyell

My Lords, on the noble Lord's last question, I could not answer him straight away but will write to him on that point. So far as the noble Lord's first question is concerned, I am sure he will have noticed that the two figures that I gave were for the two months of January 1981 and January 1982. We understand that, for the calendar year 1981, the total value of exports was £410 million, while for 1979 we understand that the total value was £409 million.