HC Deb 27 October 1982 vol 29 c392W
Mr. Wigley

asked the Minister for Trade how many tonnes of finished and unfinished steel were imported into the United Kingdom during the last 12 months from Brazil, Spain, Korea, Japan, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium and the Comecon countries.

Mr. Peter Rees:

The information is as follows:

United Kingdom Imports of Steel Industry Products (Finished and Unfinished) From September 1981 to August 1982
"000 tonnes
Brazil 55.7
Spain 174.7
South Korea 19.0
Japan 51.6
France 406.0
West Germany 1,026.9
Italy 286.5
Belgium/Luxembourg 395.3
Comecon* 195.0

Source: Iron and Steel Statistics Bureau.

* Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, Roumania, USSR, Cuba, Mongolia and Vietnam.

Mr. Moate:

asked the Minister for Trade if he will publish figures showing the current level of import penetration of the United Kingdom market for steel by other members of the European Economic Community as compared with each of the last three years.

Mr. Peter Rees:

The available information is as follows:

United Kingdom Imports of Steel Industry Products as a Percentage of United Kingdom Consumption
Imports from 1979 1980 1981 1982*
First half
Belgium/Luxembourg 3.2 4.5 3.3 2.8
Denmark 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7
France 2.0 3.8 2.7 3.1
Federal Republic of Germany 4.7 8.8 7.7 7.9
Greece 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1
Irish Republic 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2
Italy 1.5 2.0 1.7 2.4
Netherlands 3.0 4.2 4.3 4.0

SourcesIron and Steel Statistics Bureau.

Department of Industry.

*provisional.

Note: Figures for 1980 were affected by the impact of the steel dispute.

Mr. Moate

asked the Minister for Trade if he will publish figures indicating the extent to which imports of steel into the United Kingdom from each of the other European Economic Community countries have changed during recent months; and if he will give similar figures for wire rod, reinforcing bars and merchant bars.

Mr. Peter Rees:

I will reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.