HC Deb 14 June 1972 vol 838 cc344-6W
Miss Holt

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) by what percentage the exports of West Germany to Rhodesia have grown in each of the years 1965 to 1972 inclusive;

(2) by what percentage the exports of Japan to Rhodesia have grown in each of the years 1965 to 1972 inclusive.

Sir Alec Douglas-Home

The following figures were published in the Fourth Report of the Committee established in pursuance of Security Council Resolution 253; they provide details up to 1970. Percentage changes over the previous years are given in brackets.

has given to the fact that officially recorded Japanese imports of copper ore from South Africa in 1970 amounted to 24,000 tons, whereas officially recorded South African exports of copper ore amounted to 14,500 tons over the same period, and to the extent to which the disparity is attributable to Japanese imports from Rhodesia; and what discussions he has had with the Japanese Government about this;

(2) what consideration he has given to the fact that officially recorded Japanese imports of chromium ores from South Africa amounted to 710,000tons in 1970, whereas officially recorded South African sales of such ores to Japan over this period amounted to 275,000 tons, and to the extent to which the disparity is attributable to Japanese imports from Rhodesia; and what discussions he has had with the Japanese Government about this.

Sir Alec Douglas-Home

I would refer my hon. Friend to the first part of the Answer which I gave him on 12th June. For the reasons given therein I have had no discussions about this with the Japanese Government.

Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what consideration he has given to the extent to which the disparity between officially-recorded German imports of chrome ore from South Africa amounting to 558 million lb. in 1970 and officially-recorded South African exports of chrome ore to Germany amounting to 336 million lb. in the same period represented German imports from Rhodesia, and to which failure to align British trading practice with that of the Federal Republic will create distortions of trade on entry to the European Economic Community;

  1. (2) what consideration he has given to the extent to which the disparity between officially-recorded German imports of ferro-chrome from South Africa in 1970 amounting to 64million lb. and officially-recorded South African exports of ferro-chrome to Germany during the same period amounting to 26 million lb. represented German imports from Rhodesia, and to which failure to align British trading practice with that of Germany will create distortions of trade on entry to the European Economic Community;
  2. (3) what consideration he has given to the extent to which the disparity between officially-recorded German imports of copper from South Africa in 1970 amounting to 121 million lb. and officially-recorded South African exports of copper to Germany during the same period amounting to 87 million lb. represented German imports from Rhodesia, and to which failure to align British trading practice with that of the Federal Republic will create distortions of trade on entry to the European Economic Community;
  3. (4) what consideration he has given to the extent to which the disparity between French officially recorded exports of $25 million-worth of cars to South Africa in 1970 and South African officially recorded imports of $9 million-worth of cars from France in the same year may be accounted for by French exports of cars to Rhodesia, and to which failure to align British trading practice with that of 346 France will create distortions of trade on entry to the European Economic Community.

Sir Alec Douglas-Home

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave him on 12th June.