§ Mr. Nobleasked the Secretary of State for Trade which countries impose tariff, quota or other restrictions against exports of British footwear and textiles; and what is the balance of trade with each of these countries.
§ Mr. DeakinsThe information requested in the first part of my hon. Friend's Question is not readily available but I am writing to my hon. Friend. As to the second part, balance of trade figures are not available with individual countries on a balance of payments basis. The crude trade balance—i.e., the difference between imports cif and exports fob—with each of the countries with68W which we trade can be obtained from Tables II and V of the Monthly Overseas Trade Statistics.
§ Mr. Nobleasked the Secretary of State for Trade by how much imports of textile goods and footwear have been underestimated in the light of the recently announced errors in the balance of payments.
§ Mr. DeakinsThe statistics of imports of textiles, clothing and footwear as recorded by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise have not been affected, since the error related solely to the process by which adjustment is made for seasonal factors. On a seasonally adjusted basis, imports of these commodity groups in the first nine months of this year have been revised upwards by £2 million, to £946 million.