HC Deb 27 November 1958 vol 596 cc75-6W
94. Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the present trade relations between Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, respectively with particular reference to the shipbuilding and fishing industries during each of the last ten years.

Sir D. Eccles

Trade relations between the United Kingdom and the Irish Republic are governed by the Trade Agreements of 1938 and 1948. Trade normally flows at about £100 million annually each way. I am circulating below a statement of the trade in ships and in fish between the United Kingdom and the Irish Republic over the last ten years. There are no figures for trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Following is the statement:

Fish and fish preparations Ships and boats
U.K. Imports U.K. Exports U.K. Imports U.K. Exports
£m. £m. £m. £m.
1949 0.61 0.09 0.01 1.03
1950 0.72 0.16 0.01 0.80
1951 0.98 0.28 0.01 0.04
1952 0.79 0.28 0.02 0.14
1953 0.81 0.22 0.05 0.02
1954 0.80 0.22 0.02 1.11
1955 0.67 0.22 0.02 0.47
1956 0.77 0.21 0.01 2.18
1957 0.86 0.19 0.05 3.08
1958 (Jan.-Sept.) 0.76 0.18 0.02 2.46