§ Mr. Leadbitterasked the President of the Board of Trade what are the latest figures for the granting of industrial development certificates for the Northern Region; and how these compare with the previous two years.
§ Mrs. Gwyneth DunwoodyDetails of industrial development certificates approved in the Northern Region in the first nine months of this year with comparable figures for 1966 and 1967 are given below:
rise in imports during the third quarter of this year.
§ Mr. DellImports of electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances during the third quarter of this year were some 42 per cent. higher in value than for the third quarter last year. Compared 107W with the second quarter this year they were 4.8 per cent. higher. The Government are pursuing a wide range of general measures designed to improve the competitiveness of British industry and thus increase exports and save imports. In particular the Electrical Engineering Economic Development Committee is carrying out, on the basis of information provided by H.M. Customs and Excise, a study of imports with a view to encouraging the production of competitive British products. In addition the Board of Trade have held a meeting with British manufacturers and distributors of domestic electrical appliances to discuss the type of goods which the distributors need and the range of goods which British manufacturers have to offer.
§ Sir C. Osborneasked the President of the Board of Trade how soon he estimates that the average import price rise of 13 per cent. since devaluation will fall to the same level as the eight per cent. rise in export prices; and what he estimates that the two will settle at the same figures.
§ Mr. DellThe trend in import prices is difficult to predict but barring any large fall in commodity prices, I would not expect any marked movement down in import prices.