HC Deb 26 March 1970 vol 798 cc495-6W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent the recent improvement in the balance of payments was due to world prices and world demand.

Mr. Taverne

United Kingdom exports in 1969 were helped in part by a rapid expansion of world trade. But we also came close to maintaining our share of world trade in manufactures, which was a much better performance than in previous periods of rapidly expanding world trade. The trend of world prices was unfavourable because it increased the prices of imports more than exports.

The number for surtax excludes staff employed on income tax on the same income but includes staff employed in tax offices in reporting surtax liabilities to the surtax office.

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