§ Mr. Prenticeasked the President of the Board of Trade what action he is taking to arrest the decline in the percentage of Great Britain's trade with Commonwealth countries.
§ Mrs. Gwyneth DunwoodyOur trade with the Commonwealth has grown in recent years but our trade with other areas has grown more, and the Commonwealth share of the total has thus declined. Imports from Commonwealth preference area countries were £2,553 million in 1969 as compared with £1,681 million in 1959, and exports to these countries were £2,212 million in 1969 as compared with £1,537 million in 1959. As I stated in reply to the hon. Member for Wembley, South (Sir R. Russell) on 25th February, we are doing all we can to encourage exports to Commonwealth preference area markets.—[Vol. 796, c. 1179–80.]
§ Mr. Prenticeasked the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of Great Britain's imports came from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the rest of the Commonwealth, and South Africa, respectively, in each of the years 1965 to 1968.
§ Mrs. Gwyneth DunwoodyFollowing is the information:
PERCENTAGE SHARE OF UNITED KINGDOM IMPORTS 1965 1966 Australia … 3.8 3.5 Canada … 8.0 7.2 New Zealand … 3.6 3.1 Other Commonwealth countries 14.2 13.6 South Africa … 3.1 3.2 1967 1968 Australia … 2.7 7.7 Canada … 7.1 6.5 New Zealand … 2.9 2.5 Other Commonwealth countries 12.1 12.0 South Africa … 3.4 3.4