§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Trade which countries operate import controls of any form against British textile exports; and if he will publish details of the balance of trade position of each country with the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. DeakinsThe information requested in the first part of my hon. Friend's Question is not readily available but I am writing to my hon. Friend. As to the second part, balance of trade figures are not available with individual countries on a balance of payments basis. The crude trade balance—i.e. the difference between imports c.i.f. and exports f.o.b.—with each of the countries with which we trade can be obtained from Table II and V of the Monthly Overseas Trade Statistics.
§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the level of textile imports into the United Kingdom under 380W the multi-fibre agreement arrangements on 23rd May; and what is the latest information relating to the level of textile imports.
§ Mr. DeakinsThe first agreements made under the Multi-Fibre Arrangement have only very recently come into force. Information on total textile imports is published on a monthly basis under headings SITC(R) 262.8, 266 and 65 in Tables II and III of the Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom.