§ 38. Sir G. de Freitasasked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he is aware that in the first six months of 1976, compared with the same six months of 1975, there was an increase in the value of footwear exports to die European Community of 63 per cent. and to the United States of America of 14 per cent.; to what he attributes these increases; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MeacherThese figures give me some satisfaction but most of the increase to the EEC is accounted for by exports to the Irish Republic. I should like to see British footwear manufacturers taking fuller advantage of the depreciation of sterling and the elimination of the EEC tariff to boost their exports, especially to Europe.