§ Mr. Thorntonasked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what has been the average annual rate of increase, expressed as a percentage, of exports of all kinds of engineering products over the last five years; and what have been the corresponding percentage figures for engineering imports.
§ Mr. HeathThe annual percentage increases were as follows:
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UNITED KINGDOM TRADE IN ENGINEERING PRODUCTS* PERCENTAGE CHANGE OVER PREVIOUS YEAR — 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 Imports 21 37 8 8 5 United Kingdom Exports 6 7 7 3 9 Over the five years 1958–1963, the average compound rates of increase were 15 per cent. for imports and 6 per cent. for exports. * Section 7 plus Division 86 of the Trade Accounts.
§ Mr. Thorntonasked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what was the average price per ton of engineering exports of all kinds in 1963; and what was the corresponding figure for this class of imports.
§ Mr. HeathFor a large range of engineering products, weight is not recorded. It is estimated, however, that, excluding new aircraft and sea-going vessels, imports were valued at approximately £1,100 per ton and United Kingdom exports at approximately £900 per ton in 1963.
§ Mr. Thorntonasked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he will express as a percentage the increase of exports of engineering products of all kinds during the last three months over the corresponding three months of 1962–63; and if he will give the corresponding figure for imports of engineering products of all kinds.
§ Mr. HeathThe increases in the value of trade in engineering products—Section 7 plus Division 86 of the Trade Accounts —during the three months ended January, 1964, compared with the three months ended January, 1963, were 10 per cent. and 22 per cent. for United Kingdom exports and imports respectively.