Imports (Hansard, 11 December 1968)

§ 51. Mr. Biffen
asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the freight on board value of imports for the year to date; how this compares with the corresponding figure for the preceding year; what is the estimated change in volume; and what evidence he has of import substitution by home manufacture following devaluation.

§ Mr. Dell
The value of imports, free on board, in the first three quarters of 1968 was about £5,050 million, seasonally adjusted, compared with £4,114 million in the same period of 1967. The volume of imports was 9 per cent. higher in the first three quarters of this year than in the same period last year. It is not possible to distinguish the effect which devaluation has had in encouraging import substitution.

§ Mr. Hooley
asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of imports into the United Kingdom in the first five months of 1968 divided into raw materials, sections 2 and 4 of the Standard International Trade classification, industrial machinery and equipment, divisions 71 and 72, excluding domestic appliances and aircraft engines, and consumer goods respectively.

§ Mr. Dell
Following is the information:

£ million

Raw materials 494

Industrial machinery and equipment^* 326

Consumer goods† 185

NOTES:

^* All goods in Standard International Trade Classification Division 71 and 72 other than aircraft engines and all identifiable consumer goods such as domestic electrical equipment, radios etc.

† Only goods in Sections 7 and 8 are covered; these include cars and motor cycles, other durable goods, works of art, clothing and footwear and other non-durable consumer goods. The allocation to consumer goods is to some extent arbitrary as some imports, e.g. motor cars are bought by industry as well as consumers. Where most of the imports in a particular trade account heading are thought to be purchased by individuals for personal use the whole heading has been classified as consumer goods.

	£ million
Raw materials	494
Industrial machinery and equipment^*	326
Consumer goods†	185
NOTES:
^* All goods in Standard International Trade Classification Division 71 and 72 other than aircraft engines and all identifiable consumer goods such as domestic electrical equipment, radios etc.
† Only goods in Sections 7 and 8 are covered; these include cars and motor cycles, other durable goods, works of art, clothing and footwear and other non-durable consumer goods. The allocation to consumer goods is to some extent arbitrary as some imports, e.g. motor cars are bought by industry as well as consumers. Where most of the imports in a particular trade account heading are thought to be purchased by individuals for personal use the whole heading has been classified as consumer goods.