§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Trade if, pursuant to his reply of 2nd May to the hon. Member for Epping Forest on industrial co-operation with the USSR, he will now qualify the effect on the balance of payments.
§ Mr. MeacherI regret that it is not possible to calculate the effect of the co-operation programme on the balance of payments. Deliveries made under contracts for capital plant and equipment are usually spread over a number of years and frequently do not commence until a year or so after contract signature. In any event it is not possible to extrapolate from the published trade figures deliveries relating to particular countries.