HC Deb 09 December 1974 vol 883 cc55-6W
Mr. Kinnock

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) whether he proposes to monitor and enforce the recommendations which he has given to British firms operating in South Africa on the conduct of their relationships with black and coloured South African employees ;

(2) if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names of British firms operating in South Africa not currently complying with the recommendations which he has given to them on the conduct of their relationships as employers with black and coloured South African employees.

Mr. Deakins

Plans for implementing the Expenditure Committee's remaining recommendations will be announced shortly. Companies' replies to our initial approach last May in general displayed considerable concern for African employees.

Mr. Kinnock

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what has been the financial value of visible exports to South Africa and British imports from South Africa in each year since 1964 to the latest date for which figures are available.

Mr. Deakins

Figures for 1964–71 are published in tables 283 and 284 of the Annual Abstract of Statistics 1973; for 1972 in Volume I of the Annual Statement of Overseas Trade in the United Kingdom ; and for 1973 in the December issue of the Overseas Trade Statistics. Exports and imports from January to October 1974 were £427.3 million fob and £402.1 million cif respectively.

Mr. Kinnock

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the total value of British investment in South Africa in each of the last 10 years to the latest date for which figures are available.

Mr. Shore

Estimates up to 1972 of United Kingdom direct investment, excluding oil, in South Africa and South West Africa are given in the table below. Portfolio, oil and miscellaneous investment is not analysed by individual countries. Estimates for 1973 will be published in next year's Business Monitor, M4, Overseas Transactions:

United Kingdom Direct Investment in South Africa and South West Africa (excluding oil)
£ million
1963 34.0
1964 33.1
1965 44.5
1966 34.7
1967 46.6
1968 42.8
1969 72.2
1970 53.1
1971 22.3
1972 73.2

Mr. Kinnock

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the countries which, in the last year for which figures are available, are markets of equal commercial standing with South Africa for British exports and imports.

Mr. Deakins

The value of our trade with South Africa and with other markets of comparable size can be ascertained from the published monthlyOverseas Trade Statistics—Imports, Table II, Exports, Table V.

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