§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Trade what are the rates of interest in the principal competitor countries from which carpets are imported into the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. ParkinsonI understand that the latest available Central Bank discount rates in the most important countries from 321W which the United Kingdom imports carpets, carpeting, rugs, mats and matting of wool or of man-made fibres are as follows:
Per cent. United States of America … 11 Denmark … 13 Irish Republic … 16.86 Belgium … 13 Netherlands … 9.5 Canada … 10.44 Federal Republic of Germany … 7.5 Portugal … 18–23* * a multi-tier discounting system exists in Portugal.
UNITED KINGDOM IMPORTS OF TEXTILES FROM SOUTH AFRICA (a) BY VALUE 1975 1976 1977 1978 (£ million cif) 1979 Total of which: 2.76 3.41 3.50 6.64 10.75 Tops of wool or of fine animal hair 2.50 2.94 2.43 4.01 4.85 Cotton yarn 0.02 0.02 0.17 1.69 4.15 Woven cotton fabrics (not including narrow or special fabrics) 0.02 0.03 0.36 0.27 0.50 Other textile products 0.22 0.42 0.55 0.68 1.26 (b) BY WEIGHT 1975 1976 1977 (thousand tonnes) 1978 1979 Total of which: 1.50 1.57 1.34 2.95 5.27 Tops of wool or of fine animal hair 1.38 1.34 0.87 1.42 1.72 Cotton yarn 0.01 0.01 0.09 1.03 2.67 Woven cotton fabrics (not including narrow or special fabrics) 0.00 0.01 0.15 0.17 0.28 Other textile products 0.11 0.21 0.23 0.33 0.59 Source: United Kingdom Overseas Trade Statistics (SITC (Rev 2) Division 65, Groups 266 and 267 and Items 268.7 (part) and 847.11 and corresponding items under SITC (Rev 1)). Notes: (a) Details of the major suppliers of these imports are not available. (b) Because of rounding there may be slight discrepancies between the totals shown and the sums of the constituent items. (c) 0.00—trade less than 5 tonnes.