§ Mr. Gouldasked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the percentage increase in imports and exports of manufactures, excluding precious stones, in the first half of 1977 compared with the same period in 1976; and what was the corresponding increase for the EEC Six.
§ Mr. MeacherThe figures are:
UNITED KINGDOM TRADE IN MANUFACTURES (Overseas Trade Statistics Basis) Percentage change First half 1977/ First half 1976 … World* World† EEC Six† Exports … +26 +26 +36 Imports … +35 +35 +32 * Trade in total manufactures other than precious stones (SITC 667). † For confidentiality reasons, figures of imports of precious stones from the EEC Six are not available. The percentage changes for EEC Six (and also, for comparison, for the World) have been derived from figures of trade in manufactures other than non-metallic mineral manufactures (SITC division 66). This division is the smallest appropriate aggregate for which country information is available.