HC Deb 20 June 1961 vol 642 cc121-2W
80. Mr. Peyton

asked the Minister of Transport if he will publish in the Official Report a statement, for the last ten years, of the amounts earned by United Kingdom ships carrying foreign goods and the amounts disbursed on account of United Kingdom goods carried in foreign ships; and what action he intends to take to remedy the steadily worsening position.

Mr. Marples

I am circulating below such figures as are available. These figures are being taken into account in the Government's review of the recent recommendations of the General Council of British Shipping.

UNITED KINGDOM BALANCE OF PAYMENTS
£ millions
1958 1959 1960
United Kingdom Shipping:
Earnings from abroad 565 557 570
Disbursements abroad 300 299 304
Overseas Shipping:
Earnings from United Kingdom 315 351 365
Disbursements in United Kingdom 72 68 74
Net credit on shipping account in United Kingdom Balance of Payments + 22 - 25 - 25

Note:

Comparable figures for earlier years are not available, but in 1952 United Kingdom shipping earned from abroad £510 million and disbursed abroad £234 million. It is estimated that the net credit on shipping account was £135 million.

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