HC Deb 13 June 1995 vol 261 cc454-5W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the President of the Board of Trade pursuant to his answer of 24 May,Official Report, column 644,concerning the effectiveness of commercial posts overseas in increasing exports, from what date United Kingdom exports to India have increased by 50 per cent.; what were the equivalent increases or decreases in exports to India by Germany, Japan, the USA, France and Italy; and if he will publish the percentage change in Indian imports since that date from the six countries to the latest annual quarter, and the corresponding change in exports from the six to India. [27495]

Mr. Needham

The following table sets out figures for UK-India bilateral trade in the period 1992–94 and the comparable figures for our main competitors.

G6 exports to India 1992, 1994 and percentage change
1992 £ million 1994 £ million Percentage change
Germany 1,034 1,351 30.6
Japan 847 1,338 57.8
USA 1.091 1,500 37.5
France 384 533 38.9
Italy 276 462 67.5
UK 944 1,311 38.9
G6 imports from India 1992, 1994 and percentage change
1992 £ million 1994 £ million Percentage Change
Germany 982 1,367 39.3
Japan 1,161 1,731 49.0
USA 2,155 3,462 60.6
France 410 586 43.1
Italy 437 659 50.7
UK 860 1,288 49.7

Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 24 May,Official Report, column 644, concerning the effectiveness of commercial posts overseas in increasing exports, if the increase in exports made possible by Action Japan or the Indo-British Partnership is likely to exceed (a) their foreign exchange cost, (b) the total cost to Government and (c) the benefit of a 1 per cent. fall in the real value of sterling relative to those of the United Kingdom's competitors in the relevant markets. [27504]

Mr. Needham

The information is not available.