§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list the major exporting industries, giving their approximate percentage contribution to the value of exports and showing the percentage increase each has had in the last eight quarters for which figures are available.
§ Mr. DellFigures of exports of goods are compiled on a commodity basis and an exact attribution of them to particular industries is not possible. Nevertheless, a reclassification has been made to allocate the commodity figures according to the industries of the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) of which they are the principal products. This analysis, with notes on the interpretation of the figures, was published inBusiness Monitor M10 1975. Currently figures are available for years 1970 to 242W 1975, but information on a quarterly basis is being prepared and will be made available as soon as resources permit.
The following list of major exporting industries and their percentage of total exports are based on the 1975 figures at order level of the SIC.
SIC Order Percentage of total VII. Mechanical Engineering 16.1 XI. Vehicles 15.4 V. Chemical and Allied Industries 11.3 IX. Electrical Engineering 9.3 XII. Metal Goods n-e-s 8.3 III. Food, drink and tobacco 6.4 VI. Metal manufacture 5.5 XIII. Textiles 4.7 Other 23.0
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Trade what financial incentives to exporters are permitted under GATT and EEC regulations.
§ Mr. Clinton DavisArticle 92 of the Treaty of Rome has the effect of prohibiting financial incentives for exports to other member States. As regards the GATT, Article XVI(4) prohibits subsidies, which would generally include financial incentives, if they have the effect that the product is sold for export at a price lower than the comparable price charged for the like product in the domestic market.