§ 93. Mr. Lewisasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will publish in HANSARD the average percentage rise or fall in the price of United Kingdom imports and exports for the second half of 1958, on the basis of the first half of 1950 being equal to 100.
§ Mr. J. RodgersThe index numbers of the prices of United Kingdom imports and exports in the second half of 1958 were, respectively, 120 and 131, taking first half 1950 as equal to 100.
§ 94. Mr. Lewisasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that in 1958 Belgian exports to Great Britain reached £60,500,000 and United Kingdom exports to Belgium only totalled £59,500,000 and whereas Belgian exports were roughly at the same level as in 1957 and only slightly below the level of the average for the past five years, British exports to Belgium dropped by over £18 million compared with the previous year and were about £4,500,000 below the average for the past five years; what was the reason for this; and, in view of the growing unemployment in our manufacturing industries, what action he proposes to take to reverse this trend.
§ Mr. J. RodgersI am aware of this position which can be accounted for by the decline in economic activity in Belgium in that year. There are few restrictions on imports into Belgium and higher export figures will depend on the degree of activity in Belgium and the efforts of our own exporters. We have no special action in mind.