§ Mr. John H. Osbornasked the Secretary of State for Trade how much of the total value of wool, synthetic and other textiles imported into Great Britain in 1974 came from Eastern European countries, which do not have to meet conventional commercial criteria.
§ Mr. DeakinsAs I indicated in my reply to the hon. Member's Question of 27th January, the total value c.i.f. of United Kingdom imports of textiles in 437W January-November 1974 was £697,698,000, of which £13,021,000 was from Eastern bloc and Warsaw Pact countries. Of the latter figure all but £4,000 came from Eastern European countries, the difference being attributable to Mongolia and Cuba.
§ Mr. John H. Osbornasked the Secretary of State for Trade what has been the value of wool and textiles, including synthetic fibres, imported in the current year; how this compares with average annual figures for the last five years and 10 years, respectively; and if he will express these figures as a percentage of total consumption.
§ Mr. DeakinsThe value of imports was as follows:
£ million c.i.f. Raw Wool Textiles Average of 10 years 1965–1974 101 337 Average of 5 years 1970–1974 97 464 1974 115 750 The estimated share of the United Kingdom market taken by imports of textiles in recent years was:
Per cent. 1968 13 1970 13 1971 16 1972 17 1973 20 1974 (1st half) 24 Estimates for years before 1968 and for 1969 are not available.
The share of the United Kingdom consumption of raw wool taken by imports in terms of value is not available. In terms of quantity—clean weight equivalent—it was:
Per cent. Average of 10 years 1964–1973 92 Average of 5 years 1969–1973 89 1974 (1st three quarters) 76