HC Deb 06 May 1968 vol 764 cc29-30W
Mr. Speed

asked the President of the Board of Trade what assumption he makes about the short run price elasticity of demand for copper as a basis for his estimate of the cost to the United Kingdom balance of payments of the change from a fixed producer price for contract copper to a price equivalent to the London Metal Exchange three months forward price in April, 1966.

Mr. Dell

It is assumed that demand for copper is relatively inelastic to price changes in the short term.

Mr. Speed

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will arrange for the London Metal Exchange three month forward price for copper to be substituted for the spot price in table 167 (March 1968) of the Monthly Digest of Statistics.

Mr. Dell

I will consider this suggestion.

Mr. Speed

asked the President of the Board of Trade what assumption he makes about the proportion of United Kingdom copper imports bought at producer prices in 1965 when estimating the extra cost of copper imports to the United Kingdom balance of payments due to the Rhodesian situation.

Mr. Dell

Much of the greater part of these imports were at producer prices.