§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for Trade what discussions have recently taken place between the British and United States authorities on changes in the advance booking conditions of charter flights; if it is the policy of the United Kingdom to dispense with the advance booking requirement altogether; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Clinton DavisAs I said in answer to the hon. Member for Tynemouth (Mr. Trotter) on 20th March, delegations representing the United Kingdom and United States aeronautical authorities met in Washington between 6th and 17th March to settle, inter alia, the draft of a bilateral charter agreement as provided in Annex 4 of Bermuda 2, signed on 23rd July 1977. The advance booking period for charter flights has in general been reduced to 21 days. It is certainly not our policy to do away with that advance booking requirement.
£ million 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 NET UNITED KINGDOM DIRECT INVESTMENT OVERSEAS (EXCLUDING OIL) Total to: World 546 676 737 1,621 1,575 1,094 Developing countries* of which: 132 82 86 248 245 324 Main developing countries with GNP per capita of more than $280 in 1976§ ≑ 122 55 59 187 161 266 In agriculture, forestry and fishing in: World 5 5 17 9 20 -7 Developing countries* 4 5 11 15 11 -2 NET EARNINGS† FROM UNITED KINGDOM DIRECT INVESTMENT OVERSEAS (EXCLUDING OIL) IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES Overseas branches 71 64 70 101 146 131 Overseas subsidiaries and associates 162 156 184 286 319 385 Total net earnings of which: 233 220 254 387 465 516 Dividends and interest remitted by overseas subsidiaries and asssociates‡ 66 78 78 114 138 137 * As defined by OECD (includes Portugal). † Net of overseas tax and depreciation. ‡ Figures of remittances of earnings by overseas branches are not available. § GNP per capita of $280 or less in 1976 is used by the International Development Agency to determine those countries qualifying for the most concessional terms for financial assistance. ≑ Covers Portugal, Western Europe other than EEC and EFTA, Ghana, Libyan Arab Republic, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rhodesia, Seychelles, Sudan, Zambia, Middle East, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Argentina, Bahamas, Bermuda, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela, Fiji. Separate figures are not readily available for other developing countries with GNP per capita of more than $280 in 1976.