§ Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list, by value, the exports from the United Kingdom to Australia and the imports from Australia into the United Kingdom of the following electrical white goods: air conditioning machinery, food freezers, combined freezer and refrigerators, domestic refrigerators, domestic electric cookers, electrically operated washing machines and domestic tumble driers, for the most recent 12-month period for which figures are available.
§ Mr. ParkinsonThe available information is as follows:
Value of Trade with Australia in Selected Equipment, 1980 (£ thousand) U.K. Imports c.i.f. U.K. Exports f.o.b. Air conditioning machinery 21 200 Deep freezers (domestic) — 34 Electrical freezer—refrigerators (domestic) — 4 Electrical refrigerators (domestic) 0 158 Electric cookers (domestic) (including microwave ovens) — 1 Electrically operated washing machines (domestic) — — Clothes drying machines (non-centrifugal) 29 — Source: Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom, SITC (R2) Sub-groups 741.5, 775.11 (part 1, 775.12 (part), 775.22, 775.86 (part)).
Note: 0=less than £500.
§ Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will take steps to secure a reduction in imports of electrical white goods from Australia having regard to the circumstances which these goods enjoy preferential tariffs of between 4.8 per cent. and 7 per cent. against the import duty tariffs imposed by Australia of at least 25 per cent. upon similar goods manufactured in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. ParkinsonIn recent years imports of electrical white goods from Australia have been very small. I see no case for action in relation to them.