§ Mr. Brooksasked the President of the Board of Trade, what was the total value of exports of British books to the European Economic Community countries in 1965 and 1966; what proportion of these were non-fiction; and what proportion of total British exports of nonfiction books were accounted for by the European Economic Community market.
§ Mr. DarlingMuch of the trade in books is conducted by post and records of postal trade do not distinguish exports of books. Recorded exports of books from the United Kingdom other than by post to countries of the European Economic Community were as follows:
296W
£ thousand (f.o.b.) Books and booklets, other than children's picture and painting books Children's picture books and painting books 1965 1966 1965 1966 West Germany 386 364 2 2 Netherlands 547 606 — 1 Belgium 92 96 — 1 France 235 194 — 3 Italy 116 104 — 2 Total 1,376 1,364 3 8 — Indicates less than £500.
Separate information about non-fiction books is not available.
§ Mr. Brooksasked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he proposes to take to encourage exports of British books, especially technical and educational books, to the countries of the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. JayThe full range of Government services to exporters is available to exporters of books to the European Economic Community. For example, a display of British technical books, sponsored by the Book Development Council with the help of the Board of Trade, will be mounted at the International Chemical Engineering Exhibition at Frankfurt during June.
§ Mr. Brooksasked the President of the Board of Trade what is his policy towards Government subsidies for overseas initiative by groups of publishers, such as translation projects or special catalogues.
§ Mr. JayThe Government are willing on certain conditions to help exporters of books, as of other goods, with the cost of taking part in overseas trade fairs, arranging outward and inward trade missions, and undertaking collective market research. Financial assistance towards translation, production and overseas distribution costs of trade directories and buyers' guides conforming to a definite standard is also made available through the British National Export Council to trade associations sponsoring such publications.