§ 30. Sir C. Osborneasked the President of the Board of Trade what was the approximate total value of trade in imports and exports, respectively, during 1960 with the African and Asian countries of the Commonwealth; if he will express these figures in terms of 1954 prices; if he is aware that during the last six years the prices of such imports fell by 1 per cent. while the prices of such exports rose by 11 per cent.; and if he will propose a conference of the Governments concerned to investigate 22W means by which Her Majesty's Government may help to offset the effects of this unfavourable balance.
§ Sir K. JosephUnited Kingdom imports from and exports to the countries concerned in 1960 were £889 million and £765 million, respectively. I regret that it has not been possible to undertake the work needed to express these figures in terms of 1954 prices. My right hon. Friend is aware that between 1954 and 1960 the price index for our imports from all sources fell by 1 per cent. and that the index for exports to all destinations rose by 11 per cent.
As regards the last part of the Question, problems of this kind are already considered within the Commonwealth by the Commonwealth Economic Consultative Council and its subordinate committees, as well as internationally by such bodies as the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation and the G.A.T.T. My right hon. Friend does not think that a special conference is necessary, or would be useful.