§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will give details of the Common Market's trade balance or deficit for each year since 1964.
§ Mr. NobleThe visible trade balance was in surplus in each of the years 1964 to 1969. Data for 1970 are not yet available.
Following is the information:
VISIBLE TRADE SURPLUS OF THE COUNTRIES OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITIES U.S. $ Million 1964 … … … 754 1965 … … … 2,165 1966 … … … 2,662 1967 … … … 5,139 1968 … … … 6,446 1969 … … … 4,668 Note: Because of changes in the methods used to establish the French balance of payments, figures for the years prior to 1967 are not strictly comparable with those for 1967 and subsequent years but the difference is relatively small.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has received the communication from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, regarding the effects on British industry of Great Britain's entry into the Common Market; and whether he will make a statement in connection with it.
§ Mr. NobleNo. If the hon. Member would send me a copy of the communication referred to I shall be glad to consider the matter.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has received the communication dated 10th April from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, concerning the use of the £ sterling in the sterling area and its effects on Great Britain's entry into the 29W European Economic Community; and whether he will make a statement thereon.
§ Mr. NobleNo, but in any event the subject to which the hon. Member refers appears to be one for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.