HC Deb 19 March 1971 vol 813 cc414-5W
Mr. Deakins

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the causes of the failure of the United Kingdom to achieve a faster rate of economic growth despite its membership of the European Free Trade Association.

Mr. Higgins

There is good reason to think that membership of the European Free Trade Association has had a favourable effect on the growth of United Kingdom trade, especially exports. The question of why the United Kingdom's overall growth performance has nevertheless been unsatisfactory is a much wider one on which the Government's views are well known.