§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that German exports to Great Britain for the first two months of 1967 were a record £56 million, being a rise of £5 million, whereas Great Britain's exports to Germany for the same period reached a new low level of £37 million; what was the reason for this; what action he has taken, or intends to take, to balance this trade; and what extent Great Britain's entry into the Common Market would improve these figures.
§ Mr. JayYes. The main factor which has affected Anglo-German trade in recent months is probably the down turn in the German economy, which has led to an overall decline in German imports. The removal last November of the temporary import charge has no doubt affected our imports from Germany.
The recent course of our export trade as a whole suggests that British traders will be well able to take advantage of any revival of demand in Germany, and the Government will continue to do all it can to help British industry to become even more competitive at home and overseas.
The last part of the Question is hypothetical.