§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish a table showing the value of exports to and imports from the Republic of South Africa in the most recent annual period for which figures are available; and what steps he is taking to increase the level of exports to South Africa.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkThe figures requested are as follows:
United Kingdom Trade with Republic of South Africa £ million Imports Exports 1985 989.8 1,009.2 1 October 1985 to 30 September 1986 848.8 838.6 South Africa remains a major export market and my Department will continue to draw United Kingdom exporters' attention to the considerable opportunities which still exist there.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many trade missions have travelled to South Africa to promote exports in each of the most recent three years for which figures are available; and what missions are planned for 1987.
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§ Mr. Alan ClarkOur records list those trade missions which received BOTB financial support. The numbers of such missions visiting South Africa in the last three complete financial years were as follows:
Missions 1983–84 16 1984–85 12 1985–86 11 In line with the agreement reached by Commonwealth Heads of Government at Nassau in October 1985. Government funding for trade missions visiting South Africa is no longer available. Accordingly, the BOTB has funded no trade missions to South Africa in 1986 and has no plans to do so in 1987. In other respects, the normal range of officials assistance to exporters continues to be available to British business men who visit South Africa at their own expense, either individually or as a group.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the number of British jobs which are related to trade with South Africa; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkOn the latest, but as yet incomplete, data for 1985, our best estimate is that about 90,000 full-time job equivalents may be involved in the export of goods and services to South Africa. This is a broad estimate based on the aggregate level of trade with that country, together with an assumption about the relationship between output and employment.
§ Mr. Michael Brownasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the restructuring of Sheffield Forgemasters.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThe Government have agreed to give a guarantee for £10 million to the bankers of Sheffield Forgemasters, subject to formal approval of the arrangements by the company's shareholders and loan stock holders. The guarantee is given in respect of additional facilities which the banks will make available to the company, and is provided under section 7 of the Industrial Development Act 1982 for an initial sum of £10 million, reducing in stages and expiring on 30 September 1988.
The decision to give the guarantee, first sought by the company last year, follows a re-appraisal of the company's financial prospects carried out by the Department earlier this year after the industrial dispute at the company's works last winter had been settled.
I am pleased that agreement on this guarantee has now been reached with the company and its bankers, which should help the company to complete its restructuring programme. This should in turn help the company's return to profitability, which is the only way of securing job prospects for those who work at Sheffield Forgemasters.
Month Cases awaiting resolution at the end of each month Cases resolved during each month Staff in post (part-time staff being each counted as one half) September 1981 26,500 2,287 154 October 1981 27,000 1,798 153 November 1981 27,400 1,896 160