§ Mr. Wingfield Digbyasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the United Kingdom has reserved her position in the same way as Norway on the Common Market rules on freedom of capital movement in relation to British shipping.
§ Mr. HigginsNo. The United Kingdom does not at present operate special restrictions on capital movement in relation to shipping.
§ Mr. Martenasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in which countries of the European Economic Community the standard of living rose significantly more than double the rate of the rise in the United Kingdom in the last convenient period of 12 months, and what criteria are used in making such comparisons.
§ Mr. HigginsChanges in the standard of living are usually measured either by reference to the change in the gross national product at constant prices per head of the population or by changes in private consumption at constant prices per head of the population. On either basis all six of the members of the European Economic Community showed a rate of growth significantly more than double that of the United Kingdom between 1968
Jan.-May Commodity 1968 1969 1970 1971* Scotch whisky, N. Irish whisky and other mature British spirits (thousand proof gallons) … … 9,828 9,234 10,528 3,146 Other potable spirits (thousand proof gallons) … … 8,369 7,859 9,081 2,588 British wines (thousand gallons) … … 11,089 11,145 10,436 4,162 Imported wines (thousand gallons) … … 35,345 33,729 35,442 13,488 Beer (thousand bulk barrels of 36 gallons) … … 32,030 33,394 34,441 13,734 * Provisional figures.