Imports Exports and Balance of Payments

HC Deb 19 February 1964 vol 689 cc222-3W

Mr. A. Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development it whether, taking October, 1951, as equal to 100, he will publish in HANSARD a table of figures giving the annual calendar percentage rise or fall to date in the terms of trade, imports, exports, and the balance of payments.

Mr. Heath

The following is the information:

the last available year—are 118 and 221 respectively.

The latter figure is 187 per cent. of the former.

Mr. Denzil Freeth

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development how many retail businesses went bankrupt in 1957 and in the last calendar year for which the figure is available; and if he will express the latter as a percentage of the former.

Mr. Heath

The numbers of bankruptcies of retail businesses for the years 1957 and 1962—the last available year—are 483 and 1,172 respectively.

The latter figure is 243 per cent. of the former.